Published 12 June 2025
Free gym and swim sessions for young people across West Dunbartonshire will return for the summer holidays.
Schoolchildren will be able to access free swimming and gym for the six weeks starting from Friday, 27 June through to Thursday, 14 August.
It is the third year the popular initiative will run, with increasing numbers of young people attending each year.
Record numbers were seen during the most recent Easter break, with overall turnout increasing from 3,027 in 2024 to 4,854 this year across venues which include the Meadow Centre in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven swimming pool and Clydebank Leisure Centre.
Over the two-week period in April, families saved £6,200, the cost of supporting the free swim and gym initiative.
Clydebank Leisure Centre welcomed 1,222 swimmers, an increase of 99 percent, while at the Vale of Leven Swimming Pool, 297 swimmers enjoyed the free session, an increase of 115 percent. The Meadow Centre in Dumbarton supported 640 gym sessions, up from 356 in 2024, an increase of 80 percent.
Since the initiative was launched in 2023, the number of young people accessing the free swims sessions over the Easter holiday has increased by 236 percent and 204 percent for the gym.
Councillor William Rooney, Convener of Corporate Services, said: "It is really pleasing to see this huge increase in the number of young people using the leisure centres over the Easter holidays and I would like to thank all the staff who have supported this initiative.
"These free swim and gym sessions offered by West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust are clearly very popular and offer young people fun time to spend with their friends and get some exercise but more importantly it offers unlimited free swim and gym sessions that some families might not be able to afford.
“I encourage families to continue to make good use of these fantastic facilities during the Summer break.”
Councillor Clare Steel, Partner Director and Chair of West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, added: “This is a fantastic initiative that is growing in popularity every year with our families and young people. The figures show that this is a great benefit to young people and keeps them busy over the holidays at no cost.
“We understand the financial pressures faced by our families and the cost to keep children occupied over the holidays, so I am delighted to see the numbers increase year on year which is keeping our young people active, fit and this will have a significant benefit to their health and wellbeing.”
Schoolchildren of all ages can access the free swim sessions, while young people between the ages of 12 and 18 can enjoy free access to the gym.
The initiative allows pupils to swim for free between 11am and 3pm while gym sessions are available between 12pm and 4pm.
Those heading along to take advantage of the offers must sign up for a free leisure card and attend a West Dunbartonshire school or be a resident in the area.
