- My experience as a blind person, visiting this. Stratford-based leisure centre for the first time.
- By Fiona Musgrove.
It took Daniel over two years to find a suitable swimming coach and venue willing to support his needs. During this time, he had been in contact with leisure centres from Newham to Tower Hamlets. One swimming coach refused to leave the pool to guide him, whereas others declined his entry to their venues. Frustratingly, this is in contrast to a pledge given to me by the then London Mayor, Boris Johnson, on LBC Radio (2014) that grassroots disabled sports opportunities would be one of the legacies from the 2012 London Olympic Games. Ironically, Daniel struck gold at the heart of the Olympic Park in Stratford. A call to the London Aquatics Centre, managed by Everyone Active (established in 1987), introduced him to Louise Wray.
Daniel explained, “Louise was the first person who listened and understood my requirements.” More importantly, she was willing to ensure he learnt to swim.
Louise has worked for nearly two years as Contract Aquatics Manager for London Aquatics Centre, where they currently have over 4,500participants in their AquaticsProgramme. It was here that Tom Daley and others competed in the 2012 London Olympics. Louise’s own swimming career began representing Romford as a child and progressed into coaching over 4,000 children at her previous pool. She brought her experience of coaching deaf swimmers through learning BSL (British Sign Language), which ultimately opened her awareness of other sensory loss restrictions, into her new role.
Lessons take place in one of their two 50 metre training pools, sectioned off from public use. Unlike other swimming providers for disabled people, these classes are just for blind and partially sighted people with in-pool instructors. So, armed with a new swimming costume and towel, I went along to find out more.
It is a short walk from Stratford station to the pool, or the number 333 Bus stops just outside the venue. Arrangements are in place to either meet at the barriers or stationstaff can guide you to the concierge desk, just inside the Westfield Shopping Centre.There is ample disabled parking, along with a pickup/drop off point, at the venue’s entrance, for taxis and private cars. Louise explained she had an idea to request large blue water droplets painted on part of the route to direct partially sighted people to the venue from the shopping centre!
Once inside the large foyer, I was introduced to Karen and Tahera, who have been regularly supporting these sessions since April 2025. In fact, Karen said she often attends both the Tuesday and Friday sessions, admitting, “I really enjoy the whole experience and feel so much better afterwards.”
Louise said that swimming is a low-impact strengthening exercise which should be available for everyone. Tahera also agreed, she too feels the benefits of having regular access to swimming lessons, within a safe environment, without the fear of other swimmers bumping into her. At this session (Friday 8th May), there were four visually impaired swimmers and two in-pool instructors. There is a limit of 12swimmers per session, which will require more supporting instructors. Currently,lessons take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Tahera added, “There is never any pressure within the session.” Each session is paced around the individual, relating not just to their sight loss but also to other health conditions. There is one swimmer who is able to swim up and down a lane independently for a period, whilst others are just beginning to learn.
Although I had learnt to swim as a child, I never felt confident to swim independently, since losing my sight, fearing bumping into others, or going off course. Additionally, I have developed a lung problem later in life, which makes me feel panicked when my breathing is restricted. Florence, who accompanied us,encouraged me to blow bubbles, and eventually I was able to move my head above and below the water, gasping for air but maintaining my stroke. I am never going to become a long-distance swimmer, but it was a start, a fear overcome!
One of the key reasons for Daniel to learn to swim was to ensure that if he ever fell into water, he would know what to do. He explained, “I live by the River Thames, so I thought it vital I knew how to survive in water.”
Daniel’s determination and empowerment, that he and his friends should receive the same opportunities to learn to swim, came from other visually impaired people demanding equality. By speaking to other blind and partially sighted people, within groups like Eye Matter, he gained the confidence to continue his quest to learn to swim and together with Louise, has created these fantastic opportunities for us all.