News

Tots swimming group wins top award

By Jack Sommers
July 08, 2010

A GROUP that teaches babies to swim has a won a national award for children’s activity groups.

For the third year running, Water Babies, which runs classes in Farnborough, has won top prize in the What’s On 4 2010 awards, this year once again scooping the main Best National Baby and Toddler Development Activity award.

There were more than 2,500 nominations and upwards of 27,000 votes cast for the awards, for which every children’s activity and party entertainer can be nominated by parents.

“We’re just overwhelmed by the amazing response of all our clients in voting for us,” said Alan Crisford, who runs classes at the Henry Tyndale School and the Village Hotel in Farnborough.

Dedication

“To have won this national award, again, totally reflects on the dedication of the whole Water Babies team.

“As parents ourselves, we appreciate that this is one of the most magical times in people’s lives, so we work incredibly hard to enhance it.

"We’re so grateful to all our fantastic clients for taking the time to nominate and vote for us.”

Mr Crisford added: “With progressive training, babies can be taught life-saving skills such as turning on their backs or swimming to the nearest solid object following a sudden submersion.

“And it’s so important that they do. Within the last two years, seven of our children, nationally, saved themselves from drowning – despite three of them being only two.”

Unique

Alan and Louise Crisford have been running Water Babies classes in Hampshire since 2008 and, together with a team of seven staff, they teach more than 720 babies and children every week.

Mr Crisford said: “I’ve seen literally thousands of young children reap the benefits of our unique programme over the last two-and-a-half years.

“So I’m delighted that Water Babies has been recognised in this way, especially as we’re the only swimming company to have won four national awards in the last three years – reflecting the fact that we’re absolutely passionate about what we do.”

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