I-Swim Pool Access Hoist Case Study

Dolphin Mobility celebrated its 25th anniversary by giving something back to the community. Throughout the UK, members of the Dolphin Group of franchises made donations to individuals or charitable organisations in their area.

As part of this celebration, Dolphin Mobility loaned an i-swim pool lift to Bournemouth Collegiate School. This is to help James Daly, a marine veteran, and Tobias Gutteridge, a serviceman who suffered a spinal cord injury during operational duties. The lift was needed to help them organise and take part in the STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching – People with Disabilities (QCF) course.

Dolphin Mobility Ensures Swimming Course Goes Ahead

According to James Daly, the course would have been impossible to conduct without the lift as volunteers from the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA) were due to take part as pupils. He explained: “We needed to get the volunteers, who are ex-service men or women with a physical disability, in and out of the pool safely. Without the generosity of Craig and the team at Dolphin Mobility, the course would not have taken place.”

The centre hosts a number of members with moderate to severe disabilities who come in to use the facilities with their carer, and the pool hoist has been invaluable.

“We have people coming in to use the hoist from different areas and we have found it to be incredibly reliable and very easy to operate, making our lives a lot easier. I would highly recommend having a pool hoist to other centres as it gives disabled people the opportunity to be more involved, get some form of exercise, and helps centres to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act by making them equally accessible to disabled and able bodied people. We are grateful to Short Breaks for their help with funding the hoist.”

i-Swim Portable Pool Hoist

BLESMA is a national charity. There aim is to empower and promote the welfare and well being of all serving and ex-service people coping with the loss of a limb. It is also committed to supporting the surviving partners and dependents of deceased military personnel.

James Daly served in the Royal Marines for over 22 years as a Senior Non-commissioned Officer and Landing Craft Instructor. In 2013 James completed two Swimming Teachers’ courses with Tobias who then suggested introducing the People with Disabilities course to the local area.

The course has been run by Lynne Robshaw, a fully qualified STA tutor. She said: “Being able to confidently operate this type of equipment is integral to each student successfully gaining the necessary qualification to work with disabled swimmers. None of the candidates had previously used any sort of hoist or lifting equipment. The fact that Dolphin loaned us such a versatile lifting solution is tremendous. Once instructors have completed the course, they will be able to work with children and adults with varying levels of physical, learning and mental disabilities, all of which can affect their ability to swim safely.

“The i-swim pool lift is extremely user friendly. The feedback we have received from instructors operating the lift, and the people being lifted, has been extremely positive. We are very grateful to Dolphin for all their help and support.”

Dolphin Mobility Swimming Pool Access Lifts

James added: “I cannot speak highly enough of Craig and the team at Dolphin. From our first conversation through to the delivery, installation and training they have really gone the extra mile to help everyone associated with the course.”

Craig Dunnage, a Director at Dolphin Lifts, said: “When I received the call from James I knew we had to do something to assist these very brave and inspirational people with their training. At Dolphin, we believe that swimming should be open to everyone regardless of their disability and without these specially trained instructors this would not be the case.”

The ergonomically designed i-swim pool lift has been created with the user and carer/parent/coach in mind and is available in the UK exclusively from Dolphin Mobility. Incorporating an aluminium and stainless steel design, the developers have ensured the i-swim is considerably lighter and easier to move than many other mobile swimming pool hoist systems.

Find out more about our huge range of hoists and pool lifts. Please contact Dolphin Mobility on 0800 980 0126 or you can send a request for more information to info@dolphinlifts.co.uk.