Hello, my name is Elaine Waddon and I am the Your Leisure Swim School Manager at Tides Leisure Centre where I have worked since 1989.

My training includes Child Development and Education, this inspired me to help young people to stay safe, develop at their own rate and be ‘The best that they can’.

After helping with enrolments, I went on to permanently working in Swim School in 2013 where I took my ambition for all young people to feel comfortable in the water and learn an important and valuable life skill, in an enjoyable way and became a Level 2 Swim Teacher.

Nothing delights me more than seeing a non-swimmer lift their feet and start to swim a great, proud moment for the swimmers, parents, guardians and family, or the pride of a swimmer completing all 7 stages, a fantastic achievement.

At Tides, I have a fantastic swim school team, who all share the same aim of giving every swimmer the best experience in the water by putting them at ease, giving praise, encouragement, motivation, teaching good swimming techniques and skills in a safe and happy environment.

I am also part of the Your Leisure Safeguarding Team.