Unna district secures swimming courses for special needs students: cooperation with Kamen!

Unna district secures swimming courses for special needs students: cooperation with Kamen!

A groundbreaking decision was made at today's district council meeting: The cooperation with the city of Kamen to continue the small swimming pool in Kamen-Heeren has been confirmed. This was initiated by District Administrator Mario Löhr in order to secure the swimming offer in 2026. The resolution enables the provision of 195 additional swimming sessions per year for special schools in the Unna district, which represents a real enrichment for the schools affected. Financing is also regulated: the Unna district contributes 100,000 euros, while the city of Kamen covers 50,000 euros in operating costs kreis-unna.de reported.

The small swimming pool is not only important for special schools; it is also used by various schools, clubs and initiatives. It is planned to close the hall after the completion of the new combined pool in Kamen-Mitte, but the district administrator emphasizes the urgency of a water area for swimming lessons.

Safe swimming skills for children

The need to acquire swimming skills is backed up by worrying statistics. The DLRG reports that 411 drowning cases were recorded in Germany last year, which is 31 more than the previous year. In addition, the number of primary school children who cannot swim has risen worryingly. To counteract this, it is important that children come into contact with water as early as possible. Playful activities under supervision - be it in the bathtub, the shower or during baby swimming courses - are particularly beneficial, as the DLRG explains on its portal: dlrg.de.

Water familiarization should always take place in a safe environment to prevent anxiety and create positive experiences. A holistic approach where children perceive and experience the properties of water is crucial. Through targeted exercises in the water, such as walking, running or jumping, the differences between gravity and buoyancy can be understood. The platform sichere-schule.de also recommends a variety of activities that make spending time in the water pleasant and strengthen children's confidence.

A look into the future

The small swimming pool is planned to be used by various schools in 2026. This is particularly useful since many other swimming pools need to be renovated. A long-term perspective even includes the planning of a new small swimming pool at the Sonnenschule location in Kamen. The administration was instructed to carry out a corresponding audit. This hall will not only be used for school operations, but will also be open to clubs and company health promotion.

The initiatives at the local level show that the importance of swimming areas and swimming lessons is widely recognized. Access to water and safe swimming skills is crucial for all sectors of society, especially at a time when fear of water needs to be combated.