Linc Cymru HA make a BIG SPLASH with school children!
Twenty-two children from Upper Rhymney Primary School will enjoy free swimming lessons with return transport thanks to Linc Cymru.
The housing association and care provider works in 15 local authority areas in Wales. It works with contractors and suppliers who then offer community benefits as part of their contract. Linc Cymru uses this to support projects and bring extra social benefits to communities.
Pupils in year six will have an intensive swimming course, with one lesson every school day for three weeks.
Natalie Hawkins, Linc Cymru’s social value manager, said: “Swimming is a vital life skill for children, however, with pressures on school budgets and the ongoing rise in living costs, many schools struggle to offer it to their pupils. We know from our community engagement activities that Upper Rhymney Primary school children are unable to access swimming in their local area. There are no pools within walking distance and families struggle with the cost and transport for their children to access swimming.
“It is thanks to Sam King, head teacher at Upper Rhymney Primary School, local community members and Councillor Carl Cuss for bringing this to our attention. We are proud to maximise investment in communities through our development of new homes across the county of Caerphilly and our commitment to social value.
“In this case it’s going to mean this group of children learning such a worthwhile life skill. By making it easy for these children to have swimming lessons, we are contributing positively to their long-term health and wellbeing and social skills. We hope that they have so much fun with their classmates.”
Samantha King, headteacher of Upper Rhymney primary school, said: “At Upper Rhymney we believe that being able to swim is a life skill that every child should have the opportunity to learn. With no local pool in the Upper Rhymney valley, it can be difficult for our parents to access swimming lessons for their children, and for some children, swimming lessons through school is the only opportunity they get.
“It is vital that we continue to be able to fund this for all our children, but it is becoming more and more challenging with transport costs rising significantly over the last few years. We are very grateful to Linc Cymru for supporting us in continuing to provide this valuable opportunity for our children.”
Since October 2022 Linc Cymru’s community benefit fund has donated over £3,000 to the Rhymney Valley Foodbank and £500 to the Fochriw parent and toddler group. If you have an idea or project that needs a helping hand, find out more here: https://linc-cymru-communications.co.uk/community/who-we-are-responsible-business-community-funding/