Paddles Disability Swim School, based at South Moorlands Leisure Centre, in Allen Street, Cheadle, supports more than 50 children and adults from across the country with severe physical needs, including cerebral palsy, to help them strengthen their muscles and enjoy time in the water.
The swim school, which has a squad of six swimmers who regularly compete at the Special Olympics, has now become one of the only schools in the area with specialist changing facilities after fitting the new shower chair and changing bed to make it easier for swimmers to get ready.
Darren Worthington, whose 14-year-old son Joseph has been swimming at the school for six years, said the new equipment makes such a difference in helping swimmers to get ready for their lesson. Travelling for nearly an hour each way from Macclesfield every Saturday for the half hour lesson, Darren said: