Victory for female swimmers wading into leisure centre issues

The female swimmers joined forces to create the group Women’s Space in Leisure after some stopped attending female-only swimming classes at Rotherham Leisure Centre.

Samina Nawaz (50), of Herringthorpe, has been attending the sessions at the centre for around five years, but said members were becoming frustrated with working practices at the centre.

“Sometimes there were male lifeguards in women-only sessions, or male employees would walk in and out of the pool area or clean the sauna while women were swimming,” said Samina.

She said the male presence would often make some female swimmers feel “very uncomfortable”.

“It wasn’t just Asian women, it was all types of women,” she said

“They would come out of the sessions, get distressed and complain.

“One lady had a full family membership and she had stopped going because the male lifeguards were coming in and out.”

Samina and a handful of other fellow female swimmers set up Women’s Space in Leisure at the start of the year and approached the leisure centre’s management team about their grievances.

“We had a good response from them,” she said.

“They were very accepting to what needed to change. We came to an agreement and they have even sponsored me to do a lifeguarding course because they said they didn’t have enough female lifeguards. I was very honoured to be asked, I thought that was a nice gesture, I thought they were trying to do something that works for everybody.

“I go a lot, a lot of people know me, so I might be able to reach out to somebody who is reluctant to go.”

Samina, who taught her six children to swim after seeing her brother nearly drown when she was a child, added: “We’re doing it for ladies in Rotherham, this is our area, this is what would benefit us.

“It’s been a really big achievement for all of us, we’ve all got children and husbands, and have all taken a lot of time out of our lives because its meant so much to us

“It’s been a very good outcome, we just want everybody to know all these voices together, it means something, it’s important for the centre and for women’s space as well.”

Leisure centre manager Paul Harpham said he had really enjoyed working with the women and breaking down the barriers which were stopping some from participating.

“It’s been really beneficial to set up this group and hear their stories,” he said.

He said as well as training up Samina, the centre now properly informed members if a male lifeguard had to cover a session.

Frosted glass has also been installed in the gym and the sports hall to give members more privacy and a women’s only mini gym will soon be set up.

For more information contact the centre on 01709 722555.