Halberg Trust Funding for Swim Lessons

Joshua, an 8 year old boy with autism, has been attending Sport Waitakere’s Active Families programme this year. After a referral from our Active Families coordinator, Patrick Te Rito, his mum asked about ways we could support Joshua to ensure he is safe in the water. Joshua enjoys being in the pool, so we looked into swimming lessons at the local swim school - West Wave Aquatic Centre.

Joshua was approved for a Halberg Trust Activity Fund grant which has allowed him to participate in a school holiday learn to swim programme, where he gets 1:1 instruction from a skilled swim instructor. The lessons occured every day throughout the school holidays, which assisted Joshua to remember the skills he learnt the day before and build on them quickly. This format of lessons is preferable to once a week lessons, where it is more difficult to retain the skills. Josh's mum was impressed with Joshua’s improved approach to getting in and out of the pool, and said the lessons were helping with his basic swim skills. Well done Joshua!

To find out more about the Halberg Trust Activity Fund, contact Jody Moran on jody.moran@sportwaitakere.co.nz or 09 9663121.