Olympic champions Adam Peaty<\/strong> and Tom Dean<\/strong> and Paralympians Maisie Summers-Newton<\/strong> and Louise Fiddes<\/strong> met the Prince of Wales to highlight the importance of access to swimming and its benefits for physical and mental health.<\/p>\n The quartet joined Prince William at the Birtley Community Pool in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, north-east England, following the reopening of the pool which had been closed by Gateshead Council in July 2023 due to increased energy and operational costs.<\/p>\n Following the closure, local volunteers set up the charitable organisation, Birtley Community Aquatic Centre (BCAC), with the aim to reopen the pool as a not-for-profit venture.<\/p>\n In a real community effort, local residents contributed to a crowdfunding campaign with businesses and tradespeople contributing their time and resources pro bono to help refurbish the facilities while also securing funding from Sport England.<\/p>\n The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Community Impact Programme also provided funding to meet refurbishment costs and announced a new partnership with the Birtley Community Pool to provide swimming lessons and lifeguard training for the local community, enabling young people to learn and develop essential life-saving skills.<\/p>\n In a speech at the event, Prince William said:<\/p>\n “We want to replicate this across the country because swimming is such an important part of life.<\/p>\n “It can save your life, it’s a great skill, it’s fun, it gives you health, there are social reasons, it is good for people who are isolated.<\/p>\n “All these things are really important and why we need community swimming pools to remain, and come back to life again.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He also revealed that he didn’t attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in order to protect the health of the Princess of Wales who was having chemotherapy.<\/p>\n\n