A UNIQUE swimming initiative is being launched at seven 1610 pools across the South West, including the centre at Holsworthy.

The ‘Swim Buddy Programme’ hopes to encourage more people to swim and to improve their techniques.

The scheme is being launched this May at pools around Devon, Somerset and Dorset. It involves specially trained members of 1610 staff, who will be offering specialist support to swimmers about fitness techniques and how to make the best use of equipment and facilities.

The swim buddy scheme has been developed by 1610 in response to feedback from a recent survey of swimmers who wanted more guidance and support when they are using 1610 pools.

The swim and sports development manager for 1610, Ricky Hayes, said the swim buddies have a new and more engaging role to play to challenge swimmers to change their swimming techniques for improved results.

He added: “The best way to think of a swim buddy is that they are a fitness instructor but for the pool. A swim buddy is not a swimming teacher, they are very much like a gym instructor. Our swim buddies have been given a careful blend of knowledge from fitness principles, which can be used in the pool to help improve technique and form. So just like a gym instructor might approach someone in the gym if their deadlift technique was off, a swim buddy might approach you if you need to work on your breathing control or looking to change what you do from one sessions to the next.”

The swim buddies will also be able to advise on equipment use and facilities, for example; use of the flags and bunting to help spot the wall when swimming back stroke, how to use a pull buoy or other equipment, and why most pools have a pace clock to use.