Royal Commonwealth Pool – The NEN

Edinburgh Leisure swim coach making waves as he heads to Paralympian trials

Scott Quin, a swim teacher with Edinburgh Leisure will be heading to The British Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre in early April, hoping to qualify for a place in the Paris 2024 Paralympics (28^th August – 8 September 2024).

Born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, the ex-Warrender Baths-based swimmer has been swimming professionally for the last 12 years, funded by sportscotland and Scottish Swimming. Scott has shown himself to be one of the strongest S14 swimmers in the country, having won medals at Paralympic, World and European level.

Scott Quin said: “At the age of 34 years, I’m now considered something of a veteran and realistically this will probably be my last opportunity to try for a place in the Paralympics.

“Having made my Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, marking it with a silver medal in the SB14 100m Breaststroke, it would be great to finish my competitive swimming career with one more chance to bring a medal home.

“For now, I’m busy with intense training and lots of swimming at the Royal Commonwealth and Edinburgh University pools, six to seven times a week combined with gym-based training at the Uni’s Pleasance gym and at the Commie, as well as working at my day job as a swim coach at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre.”

Now considered a ‘veteran athlete’, and with his competitive swim career coming to an end and funding from British Swimming stopping, Quin explored opportunities outside of competitive swimming.

Edinburgh Leisure offered him the chance to join their Swim Teacher Training Programme last summer for his next career pathway, where he could progress from being a full-time athlete and move into the ‘real working world’ but where he could still combine a career which involved swimming.

The Swim Teacher Training programme, a structured 13-week training programme, ticked a lot of boxes for Scott – as not only does he receive training but also a salary, and on completion of the programme, was offered a job.

Scott said: “Life, as you can imagine, is particularly busy just now but I’m really excited about heading to London in April for the British Swimming Championships. I’m keeping everything crossed that I make the grade to join the team representing my country.”

The British Swimming Championships are returning to the London Aquatics Centre in 2024 and for the first time, the swimming and para-swimming events will fully combine in one competition as athletes look to book their place at Paris 2024.

The 2024 championships will take place at the venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 2-7 April with the event playing a key role in the selection of the British Olympic and Paralympic swimming teams for the Games in July.

Olympic and Paralympic swimming event schedules will run concurrently in the same programme across six days of heats and finals sessions. The para-swimming events will be run with multi-classification competitions.

It’s the first time since 2015 that the national championships will be held at the Aquatics Centre although it staged the British Swimming Selection Trials ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Edinburgh Leisure Recruitment Open Day at Royal Commonwealth Pool

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

On 16th January, we’re hosting a recruitment open day at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and we’re inviting you to apply! No experience required, we’ll support you through your qualifications.

Find out more https://tinyurl.com/37j4wtdp

Spooktacular Events at Edinburgh Leisure this Halloween

Little monsters can actively enjoy Halloween this year and have a frightfully good time at Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft-play centres across the city.

Let them get into the Halloween spirit by joining one of our soft play parties. There’ll be ghoulish discos, petrifying party games and of course lots of soft play fun.

Prizes are on offer for the best fancy dress so get creative!

Where: Clambers at Royal Commonwealth Pool
21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BB

When: 4.00-6.00 pm
Thursday, 19 October and Thursday, 26^th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Where: Scrambles at EICA Ratho
South Platt Hill, Newbridge, Edinburgh EH28 8AA

When: 3.00-5.00 pm, Friday, 27th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Where: Tumbles at Portobello
20 Westbank Street, Edinburgh EH15 1DR

When: 3.00-5.00 pm, Friday, 27^th and
4.00-6.00 pm – Monday, 30^th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Tickets are now on sale. Entry is for ticket holders only. Please present tickets at the venue’s welcome desk. Each venue will close to ‘pay as you play’ entry one hour before the start of the party. Children must be under the supervision of their parent/carer at all times.

Soft Play Membership – October offer

From only £17.99 a month*, your little adventurers can have fun in our three unique soft play venues across the city as well as receiving exclusive member benefits throughout the year.

This is a great way to keep your kids active and entertained.

Find out more about the offer here.

*Membership is £17.99 a month for one child, £31.99 for two children and £39.99 for three children.

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

On Tuesday 12th September, we’re hosting a recruitment open day at the Royal Commonwealth Pool. With full and part time positions available, there’s a role for everyone!

Find out more information here https://tinyurl.com/37j4wtdp

AquaDash at Edinburgh Leisure

Avoiding the Scottish weather? Bring the kids along to AquaDash for a guaranteed few hours of fun!

Slip and slide along our inflatable water assault course while racing against each other – everyone will love it!

Book your space today https://edinburghleisure.co.uk/launch-aquadash

Talk about sport? Reminisce, Replay, Reconnect with Sporting Memories

Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure, is running a weekly club for older adults to stay active, connected within their local community and build amazing friendships through their common love of sport.

Held on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 12.00 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, the club runs weekly and is free to attend. No need to book – just turn up.

They are the perfect forum to reminisce about local sporting heroes, share stories about past playing days and show off your knowledge over a quiz or fun game. Everyone is welcome and a cuppa is available too.

Donna Mackey, Partnership Manager, SMFS, “The Royal Commonwealth Pool is a venue at the real heart of Edinburgh’s sporting heritage.

“We believe there are lots of older adults in the area who have a passion for talking about sport and who will benefit from attending a weekly group with like-minded people. The clubs are a great opportunity to build new friendships and become more active by taking part in some of our indoor games.”

Edinburgh Leisure’s Community Development Officer, Active Ageing, Ryan Dignan said: “Edinburgh Leisure’s partnership with Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland makes perfect sense, as does hosting these clubs at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, a building steeped in its own sporting history.

“These clubs support the work we are already doing working with people living with dementia through our Movement for Memories programme and other older adults in our Ageing Well programme, who are keen to keep active and engaged, which we know is particularly beneficial for their well-being.

“Using the rich history and heritage of sport, the Sporting Memories clubs are open to older adults, both men and women, who enjoy reminiscing about their experiences of watching or playing it. We just want anyone, with a love of sport, to come along and refreshments are provided.”

The clubs are run by trained Sporting Memories volunteers who use a wide range of Sporting Memories reminiscence resources developed specifically to help prompt conversation and discussion. There is always great fun and laughter, friendships are forged, and some remarkable sporting stories often emerge.

Sporting Memories has developed an innovative and engaging approach to tackling the challenges of our ageing society. Their work focuses on reducing loneliness and isolation; getting older people physically active; and helping people to live well with dementia and other long term conditions.

For further information, contact Donna Mackey donna@thesmf.co.uk

Springboard into diving

Diving taster sessions at the Royal Commonwealth Pool

With Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games kicking off today, with diver James Heatly who trains at the Royal Commonwealth Pool with coach Jen Leeming, taking part, Edinburgh Leisure is on the hunt for the next generation of divers.

For those who have been inspired by divers such as James Heatly, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (daughter of Fred!), Tom Daley and Matty Lee, Edinburgh Leisure is offering the opportunity for children to come and try diving with their Performance Diving Coaches at the Royal Commonwealth Pool to see if they have a talent for the sport.

Children should be between 5 and 16 years old, able to swim 10 metres unaided, confident in deep water and submerge in water without googles. No experience in necessary as they will be learning basic skills but those interested in gymnastics, trampolining, acrobatics or similar sports might enjoy this opportunity to try a new sport.

The diving taster sessions cost £3 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool are offered on:

Monday, 8^th – Friday, 12 August at 15.00 – 15.25 and 15.30 – 15.55.

To secure a place, interested people should click visit the Edinburgh Leisure website to book:

https://edinburghleisure.bookinglive.com/home/holiday-dive-coaching

Edinburgh Leisure offers a world class diving programme at their diving pool at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, complete with a dedicated Dry Dive Area with trampolines and harnesses, which enables more experienced divers to practice the twists and turns before trying them out on the boards. Their diving programme follows the National Diving Award Scheme right through to competitive level.

Athletes training at the Royal Commonwealth Pool include local Edinburgh boy, James Heatly (GB) and Yona Knight-Wisdom (Jamaica). Grace Reid, who grew up in the capital, previously trained at the Commie.

For more information: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/dive

Tackling dementia, depression and loneliness through the power of sport

Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure will be running a weekly club, supporting older adults to stay active, connected within their local community, and build amazing friendships through their common love of sport.

Starting on Tuesday, 16^th August 2022, the weekly, free drop-in sessions will take place every Tuesday, from 10.30am to 12.00 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool. The sessions are the perfect forum to reminisce about local sporting heroes, share stories about past playing days and show off your knowledge over a quiz or fun game. Everyone is welcome and a cuppa will be available too.

Donna Mackey, Partnership Manager, SMFS, “We are really excited to launch our newest Sporting Memories partnership at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, a venue at the real heart of Edinburgh’s sporting heritage.

Sam Scott, Health Development Officer (Dementia) at Edinburgh Leisure said: “These sessions were originally due to start in April 2020 but for obvious reasons, they had to be put on hold.

“However, Edinburgh Leisure’s partnership with Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland makes perfect sense, as does hosting these clubs at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, a building steeped in its own sporting history. These clubs will support the work we are already doing working with people living with dementia through our Movement for Memories programme.

“Using the rich history and heritage of sport, the Sporting Memories clubs are open to older adults who enjoy reminiscing about their experiences of watching or playing it. We just want anyone, with a love of sport, to come along and refreshments are provided.”

The clubs are run by trained by Sporting Memories volunteers who use a wide range of Sporting Memories reminiscence resources developed specifically to help prompt conversation and discussion. There is always great fun and laughter, friendships are forged, and some remarkable sporting stories often emerge.

Sporting Memories has developed an innovative and engaging approach to tackling the challenges of our ageing society. Their work focuses on: reducing loneliness and isolation; getting older people physically active; and helping people to live well with dementia.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities team launched Movement for Memories in September 2018. This programme supports people living with dementia and their carers to become or remain physically active in Edinburgh.

This work is supported with funding from the Life Changes Trust. The Trust is funded by the Big Lottery.

For further information, contact Donna Mackey donna@thesmf.co.uk

Try Artistic Swimming: free trial at Royal Commonwealth Pool

Would your young swimmer (8+) like to try artistic (synchronised) swimming?

We are having a trial session on 29th May.

Please help us spread the word.

Adventure is calling with Edinburgh Leisure’s soft-play membership

Join the adventure with Edinburgh Leisure’s Young Explorer soft-play membership. A place for children to explore, have fun and be active at Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues.

There has never been a better time to sign up for the soft play membership as Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool has just completed an exciting refurbishment. Join in March 2022 and receive the month of May free.

The Young Explorer soft play membership gives unlimited soft play at three Edinburgh venues from only £16.70 per month for one child, £28.00 for two children, £33.80 for three children and £39.50 for four children.

The membership offers incredible value, fantastic flexibility and of course, will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the amazing soft plays.

Young explorers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Tumbles at Portobello, Scrambles at EICA: Ratho and Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Clambers has a brand-new frame for babies, toddlers, and juniors, with an aquatic theme and is designed so parents can supervise easily, and children can play freely all within a securely gated area.

There are slides, an upper storey football pitch and many more exciting features to explore. Its party room and Café Refresh has also been rebranded featuring hero character Skye and her mountain friends and both areas have new tables and chairs; its café servery has been extended; and the reception desk has been replaced.

Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old. Each venue has a café where healthy snacks and tasty treats can be enjoyed.

And with Scottish Government restrictions easing, there is no longer the need to pre-book sessions. In addition, 90-minute sessions are also available, in addition to shorter 60-minute sessions.

The Young Explorer is available to buy online.

For more information: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/soft-play