TAKING a walk in the countryside is generally considered to be good for your health. But it is not where I would expect to meet up with a group of people who come together to gain some benefit from swimming.

The members of Swim Inspiration, who use the Splash at Malvern every Friday, are on their summer holidays – in a way – but enjoy taking the opportunity of getting together even when the pool is not available.

Many of them joined the group for health reasons but it has come to mean far more to them once they have attended a few sessions. They are all smiles and laughter as they joke and chat at the end of their walk around St Wulstan’s Local Nature Reserve, Malvern Wells.

Swim Inspiration is a Malvern-based non-profitmaking community group which was set up about four and a half years ago by a practice nurse in the town. It was initially established to combat obesity, said the current group leader Lucy Richardson - a teacher with a PE background. Lucy is friends with the nurse who started it all.

“It was for young adults with obesity who needed to exercise more in a friendly environment. It has always been at the Splash and it has always been swimming,” she said. “Over the years it has evolved into an adult group for anyone with physical and mental health conditions.

“We get referrals from physios and GPs but anyone can come. Some people have come through the GP route. Some people bring a friend along and then they start coming. It is very fluid. There is no rule about who can come and when they can come.”

Age is certainly not a barrier – the youngest member is 14 and the oldest person to attend Swim Inspiration was 91.

The group has sessions at the Splash, which proved the venue free of charge, every Friday morning during term time and there are generally around 20 participants and five or six instructors/assistants – some paid professionals and some volunteers.

After a warm-up led by Lucy, which is aimed at stimulating both body and mind, the members split up into different groups according to what they want to do and what is appropriate for their individual conditions.

“Water is non weight-bearing. We can practise different exercises without fear of falling. It is good for strengthening and conditioning muscles without being too vigorous. Being in the water gives people a sense of freedom and independence,” explained Lucy.

“We have a loose programme we follow. We get everyone together and do a warm up and there are different lanes for what people want to do. It is very much led by the swimmers. Then we get together at the end.”

Some people have had strokes or heart attacks, others have weight issues, Parkinson’s or Huntingdon’s disease and there are some who just want to improve their mobility.

But a health issue is not compulsory. Some people have joined in because they care for someone attending the sessions and one man began as a volunteer driver taking a neighbour along to the group. He now takes part.

Lucy pointed out that it is not even necessary to swim. “If they come and want to talk to you and not swim, it is fine. Whatever help they want on the day, is what they get. They are friends with each other.

“Some will never be able to swim independently but we prolong their ability to be independent. Some people get to a point where they say they are not going to come any more and that is our goal. As soon as they can do independent swimming they leave the group.”

But for others Swim Inspiration is more than an opportunity to keep themselves moving or rehabilitate after an illness. It provides social interaction and friendship, which in some cases helps to boost confidence.

Swimmer Beryl Woollaston explained: “I came because I was overweight and needed to exercise. I was going to a weight watching group and someone said it would help to come to Swim Inspiration. I also had a bad ankle and I was strengthening it. I started coming and I have been coming ever since.”

But it was when she was diagnosed with cancer that Swim Inspiration provided extra help. Beryl was trying on a new swim suit when she discovered a lump. “When I found I had cancer, I had a lot of support. I just love coming because it has built my confidence so much. You can just stand in the pool and chat if you want.”

Vernon Thomas, who has just celebrated his 80th birthday, used to be very active. He was a carpet fitter and enjoyed ballroom dancing and hill walking in his spare time. But these days he doesn’t get much exercise and cannot walk very far due to a stroke, which led to a six-month stay in hospital.

“I had my stroke and that’s why I came to Swim Inspiration. It just seemed like a good idea and it helps me keep active. I miss it if I do not go. You get to meet different people and socialise.”

Peter Habbitts was one of the earliest members of the group. He has suffered four strokes and each time returns to Swim Inspiration as soon as he can. “At the earliest possible chance I have come back to Swim Inspiration. It is a great atmosphere and they are a great team.”

Mark Kite has been a keen swimmer for many years and attends Swim Inspiration due to his Huntingdon’s disease. He said a lot of the group members continue to swim during the holidays and they would not have done that if they didn’t attend the sessions.

His wife Sue, who takes him along each week and now joins in, said: “From Mark’s point of view it is such a fantastic thing to be with other people who like the water.” She explained that, due to his illness, they had withdrawn from life but Swim Inspiration now helps them get out and meet people.

She said the instructors, assistants and volunteers are particularly skilled at adapting to whatever is needed for anyone at a given moment. They have even supported her improve her swimming.

Mark Percival is one of the volunteer instructors and has dealt with a number of his own health issues. He takes a group of the swimmers each week for stroke improvement and also likes throwing in some interesting information and challenges to make the sessions fun and educational.

At the moment he has set the group a joint task of swimming the distance equivalent of going into space. The swimmers have already swum a combined distance equal to the length of the Malvern Hills.

“We are swimming to the Karman line. It is where NASA says you have become an astronaut. It will probably take us about a year,” he said. The Karman line lies at an altitude of 100km above the earth’s sea level.

He likes throwing in these unusual challenges and the information that goes with them – and the swimmers find it fun and interesting.

Swim Inspiration was nominated for this year’s Malvern Hills Community Sports Awards and was crowned the Inclusive Project of the Year.

The group will be resuming sessions at the Splash in September and anyone interested in more information should email swiminspiration@outlook.com