Quiet sessions will take place at AquaSplash every Wednesday in a bid to make the pool facilities more accessible to neurodiverse islanders or those with sensory differences.
From 12:00 to 15:00 each Wednesday, poolside music will be turned off, lights will be dimmed, and announcements will be minimal – unless in the event of an emergency.
Wellbeing manager Sarah Berne pointed to studies that show that up to 16% of people have sensory differences.
“That’s a huge group of people, who may be put off attending leisure facilities as the environments could create feelings of anxiety, discomfort or fear,” she said.
“By making a simple change, we’re making our centres more accessible and more welcoming, which fits into the active wellbeing strategy we launched last year.”
Contract manager Steve Dunford added: “While these quieter, more relaxed sessions are open to all customers, this small timetable change at our facilities could make a huge difference to the lives of people with neurodiverse needs, making our centres a truly inclusive environment where people can enjoy their health and wellbeing experience.”
Islanders can find more details about quieter hours at AquaSplash online.