SCHOOLS OUT - GET THOSE COUCH POTATOES IN THE POOL

Schools are breaking up for the summer holidays andchildren will be let loose to enjoy a whole six weeks away from school. The question is, what will they be doing forall this time? Taking part in sport, orplaying on their games consoles and watching TV? A recent report by the Association for the Study of Obesityreveals that children are becoming couch potatoes, with around 10% nowdiagnosed as overweight, and between 2% and 3% as obese. For this reason, the British Swimming PoolFederation (BSPF) would like to encourage you to ensure your children aremaking the most of sports and exercise and that they head for the local swimmingpool, where they can have great fun, at the same time as exercising and burningoff those extra calories.

Sport England has also revealed that the proportion of sixto eight year old children taking part in PE at school has declined, from 32%to 11% over the past five years. Fornine and 10 year olds, the decline is from 46% to 21%. At this age, children are easily influenced,therefore they should be given the time and opportunity to enjoy swimmingwhenever possible, and the summer holiday break is the ideal opportunity.

The BSPF has been set up to bring together, in oneorganisation, the UK bodies representing contractors, manufacturers,distributors and retailers of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, saunas, steamrooms and associated equipment. AllenBrobyn, Managing Director, comments, Swimming is not only fun but also thebest form of exercise that improves all-round fitness and general healthbecause it boosts strength, stamina and suppleness at the same time. We want to help to encourage children toswim more, especially during the holiday season when they have a lot of sparetime, not only for their own well-being, but to also ensure that they can swimat least 25 metres unaided, which is a requirement of National Curriculum.

If your children are keen swimmers and you do not want tokeep ferrying them to and from your local public pool, why not think aboutgetting a pool installed at home, whether it be indoors or outdoors. It need not be difficult or expensive, asswimming pools have become increasingly affordable. You can choose from a variety of styles to suit your budget, fromabove-ground pools, which can be installed and landscaped into your gardenusing decking, to self-build pools, as well as in-ground liner or concreteswimming pools.

You can either get your pool installed by a recognisedSwimming Pool and Allied Trades Association (SPATA) swimming pool contractor,who will operate under strict standards, or install it yourself, in the case ofthe above-ground and self-build pool.

You can choose from a range of finishes to suit yourpersonal taste and for those who enjoy swimming, but whose pool is rather lessthan Olympic standard, the technology is at hand to provide experience ofswimming in a pool no bigger than 8 x 6.A counter current unit is a high volume pump providing a turbulent flowof water offering a similar sensation to swimming in a larger area of water,with speeds up to five miles per hour.Swimming against the current offers all the benefits of a full exerciseswim without moving around the entire pool.Whether you prefer a leisurely paddle or a more vigorous workout, thewater flow can be adjusted to match your exercise needs.

You can ensure your child swims throughout the holidays,burning off those extra calories and possibly aspiring to become the nextSharron Davies or Adrian Moorehouse, in your own secure surroundings.

If you would like to find out more about swimming poolownership, please call the BSPF on 01264 356 210, where you can request a copyof the latest consumer magazine, Pool & Garden, which contains articleson all aspects of pool and spa ownership.Antony Worrall Thompson even recommends recipes on poolside dining! So, take the plunge, you can certainlyguarantee that your children will have fun all summer long, by installing aswimming pool.

-ENDS-

For further pressinformation please contact Kirsty Murray at TTA Public Relations

on 0208 770 9720 oremail: or KirstyMurray@tta-pr.co.uk

Notes toEditors:

TheBritish Swimming Pool Federation (BSPF) has been set up to bringtogether, in one organisation, the UK bodies representing contractors,manufacturers, distributors and retailers of swimming pools, spas, saunas,steam rooms and associated equipment.

The BSPFcomprises of:

TheSwimming Pool and Allied Trades Association (SPATA), thetrading and building standards arm of the BSPF, which sets and publishestechnical standards for construction and operation of pools, spas, hot tubs,saunas and steam rooms. Experiencedpool builders have developed these authoritative standards over the past 40years. Technical advice and mediationservices are also available

SPATEX,the annual trade exhibition

Pool Industry Promotion (PIP), handlingpublicity and public relations for the industry

British & Irish Spa and Hot TubAssociation (BISHTA), the association for the domesticself-contained spa and hot tub market, ensuring safe spa water for the public

BSPF publications,Pool Industry, the industrys own trade magazine and Pool & Garden, theindustrys own consumer publication