BITTERNE Leisure Centre has been given a charitable boost as a "life-changing" Poolpod has been installed.

As part of Swim England’s Water Wellbeing programme, the Poolpod has been installed in the Centre’s 25 metre swimming pool on Dean Road.

The pod acts as a submersible lift to provide dignified and independent access to the water for swimmers with long-term health conditions, disabilities and rehabilitation needs.

A further £2,500 has been invested by Active Nation to ensure thorough staff training and fully accessible pool sessions at Bitterne.

Maxwell Bradbury Knight, Active Nation’s Partnership Manager says: "The adaptive Poolpod equipment is a game-changer for special populations within the City – it’s now easy to get in the water via an accessible, modern and dignified life. Bitterne Leisure Centre is rapidly becoming a ‘health and wellbeing hub’ with hundreds of residents accessing the venue each week to manage a condition, take the first step to moving more or to seek tailored health and wellbeing advice."

Sir Rodney Walker, Chair of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: "We know that people who benefit most from aquatic activity – including disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, older people, people with mobility issues and pregnant women – often face the biggest barriers to accessing a swimming pool."