An inclusive new feature has been installed at the Brentwood Centre’s swimming pool to improve its accessibility. A 'Poolpod 3' is now ready to use, thanks to successful grant funding by Brentwood Borough Council, in partnership with Brentwood Access Group.
A Poolpod is a submersible platform lift that provides a flexible and dignified means of entering and leaving a swimming pool for a person with limited mobility. It is suitable for adults and children living with a disability, customers with young children, and older customers who may not consider themselves disabled but who may benefit from easier access.
Councillor Dr Tim Barrett, Brentwood Borough Council’s Chair of Housing, Health and Community Committee, said: “The Poolpod is self-operated and is going to make such a difference to anyone who stopped swimming at the Brentwood Centre because they found using a pool ladder difficult or impossible.
“We are pleased that the Council has been able to work with partners to improve inclusive physical activity for our communities. We would like to thank the Brentwood Community Fund, the Basildon and Brentwood Health Inequalities Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for supporting the initiative.”
Shaun Beagle, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, added: "The introduction of this upgraded technology is a major step forward for accessibility at our site. It ensures that more people than ever can enjoy the benefits of swimming, whether for fitness, rehabilitation, or simply the joy of being in the water. At Everyone Active, we're committed to making our facilities truly inclusive, and the Poolpod 3.0 represents a significant investment in breaking down barriers to participation in swimming activities. We're grateful to Brentwood Borough Council and our partners, Sport for Confidence, for helping make this possible."
Jim Hoare, Chair of Brentwood Access Group, said: “The previous access hoist at the Brentwood Centre was about 20 years old and no longer fit for purpose. We have heard of residents needing to travel to towns outside of Brentwood to access swimming pools, so we are very pleased to have been able to secure the funding necessary to meet the needs of those who have access requirements.”