Children can learn to swim for free, improve their swimming skills or enjoy free indoor activities in Rhondda Cynon Taf’s leisure centres during the autumn half-term 2010 holidays.
Youngsters aged 16 and under and their families can enjoy a packed programme of free leisure activities from October 25-29, 2010. Activities including football, swimming, table tennis and badminton are offered through the Council’s High 5 leisure scheme.
The Council’s 5×60 officers will also be running a new range of free activities at a number of centres, including trampolining, dance and basketball, aimed at under-18s.
Half-term Rhondda highlights include:
- Junior learn to swim Monday- Friday from 3.30-4.30pm at Bronwydd Pool.
- Football, squash, and swimming lessons Monday-Friday at Rhondda Sports Centre, Ystrad, and snorkelling sessions Thursday and Friday morning.
- Swimming lessons at Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown
- Supervised football sessions and swimming lessons at Tonyrefail Leisure Centre. 5x60sessions including basketball and netball.
Cynon half-term activities include:
- Touch Rugby, 5 v 5 football, badminton, hockey, short tennis, rounders, kwik cricket at Abercynon Sports Centre, Monday-Friday between 11-00am to 4pm. There will also be morning swimming lessons, rookie lifeguards and snorkelling.
- Junior learn to swim, snorkelling, springboard diving, rookies lifeguards and water polo at Aberdare Pool.
- Supervised activities at Michael Sobell Sports Centre, Aberdare, including badminton, 5×5 football, volleyball, kwik cricket, netball , circuits and tag from 10am -12pm Monday-Friday and 1pm-3pm Monday to Friday.
In the Taf area, highlights include:
- Free morning swimming lessons at Hawthorn Pool.
- Supervised basketball at Hawthorn Leisure Centre, as well as free use of sports courts and gym facilities (existing gym members only).
- Badminton, squash, table tennis and five-a-side football subject to availability from 11am-4.00pm at Llantrisant Leisure Centre. Dance and cheerleading run by 5×60 (Thursday only).
- A five-a-side football tournament from 10am-3pm on Wednesday, October 27 for 14-16 year olds run through 5×60 at Llantrisant Leisure Centre
- Junior swimming lessons for complete beginners at Llantrisant Leisure Centre in the mornings, with limited spaces available from aged four-plus. There will also be junior swimming (stage 3) lessons for children who want to further develop their skills. Please book in advance to secure your child’s place.
- Free use of indoor facilities at Llantwit Fardre Leisure Centre, Church Village, for squash and badminton.
Please check with your local centre to find out what times activities are available through the week.
Youngsters can swim for free between 11am and 4.30pm during the holidays at all swimming pools within the county borough. Up to two adults and three children can swim for free as a family group between 11am and 5.30pm.
Cllr Robert Bevan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism said: “We are pleased to offer more fun-packed activities to keep youngsters active throughout the October half-term holidays – whatever the weather. ”
Now in its fifth year, High 5 was launched to provide children and young people with safe and healthy activities during the school holidays. The 5×60 scheme aims to increase access to extra-curricular sport in schools by providing dedicated officers to work with children and develop their interests.
Free swimming for children is a Welsh Assembly Government-funded initiative.
To find your nearest leisure centre or pool, go to www.rctcbc.gov.uk/leisure or call Leisure Services on 01443 400563
