Volunteers with The League of Friends at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) have informed members of the hospital’s Disabled Swimming Club that some sessions have been suspended.

The Disabled Swimming Club is a volunteer-led service that has been running at the RJAH Hydrotherapy Pool for almost 30 years, however in light of the pandemic, the Tuesday afternoon sessions have been suspended for the time being.

The club provides a safe space to members to maintain their rehabilitation and is hugely popular, with approximately 40 clients attending each session.

Gill Cripps, disabled swimming club president, said: “All of the volunteer helpers are missing the club’s swimmers greatly and as soon as it is safe to do so we cannot wait to welcome you back to the pool. We hope you’re all in good spirits and that you’re keeping up with your exercises!”

Victoria Sugden, League of Friends charity director, said: “The League of Friends is so sorry that it is not possible to provide the Disabled Swimming Club at the moment and very much look forward to a time when this wonderful therapeutic, social and fun club can be resumed.”

During this time members are encouraged to join the Facebook group ‘League of Friends DSC Members’ to keep in touch with other swimmers and the volunteers who run the service.

The League of Friends continues to fundraise during this difficult time, and anyone willing to support their work can do so by visiting their JustGiving page to make a donation at https://www.justgiving.com/robertjones-agneshunt