A wellness and recovery centre in Lea has opened its very own fully accessible swimming pool and cafe – inspired by the co-owner’s disabled son.
Highfield Hybrid Training Centre has opened their new ‘Hydro’ extension to the public after the family-ran business began the project in 2018 and faced manufacturing issues during covid.
Their new swimming pool has a hoisting system. It is tracked along the ceiling through the changing rooms and into the pool to make swimming more accessible for people with disabilities.
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The pool is 32-34 degrees, which is slightly warmer than average, making it a more comfortable experience without the shock of cooler water.
The establishment also has two electric fold down beds and two self-cleaning toilets.
Highfield has a new car park which contains 4 electric charging stations, 5 disabled parking bays and 76 bays.
Glenn Mason, the co-business owner, said: “Well I believed in this project because I seriously needed to do it to help my disabled son Amos get him in the pool and walk him around. He can walk when he gets in the pool, the water holds him up and he’s away, so I was desperate to do it for him and people like him.”
Co-owner Freddie Mason, 28, said: “We have dedicated this facility to my late Grandad and my Nan who is now 95 as they own all this farmland which used to be just fields. They’ve worked so hard over their lifetime, so we have a plaque dedicated to them.
“It feels absolutely amazing to make a change, so many people I know have wanted this for years. It’s going to help so many people. The biggest point of Hydro is that people with disabilities would have somewhere to come and swim and to feel included. My brother Amos has autism and has needed 2:1 carers and we have struggled with previous facilities as the changing rooms are not fully accessible. There have been many times I’ve taken my brother swimming elsewhere and they’ve just not been adequate.
“We also have a café next door; I think it all works hand in hand perfectly. In our wellness and recovery centre you can go and do a workout in our gym, use the Hydro facilities and then come to the café afterwards, the idea is you don’t have to leave.”
Co-owner Iris, 95, said: “I think especially the people that have some problems, I think they really appreciate it and I really hope that they know it’s been given with love. we just hope it does what it was meant to do in the first pace and helps everybody because that’s what it was done for.”
Their new coffee shop is called Grounded. It sells a range of drinks and pastries. They use locally sourced products such as milk from their farm to bakes from The Outpost in Eccleston. The coffee is also locally sourced from Field and Fire in Ribble Valley.
It is located on Lea Lane, PR4 0RL. Day passes are available to anybody who doesn’t have a membership. They are open 6.30am-9pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm on weekends.
