At Swanton Group, we love celebrating the small steps that lead to big changes—and in Telford, John and Carol are showing us all how it’s done with their new favourite weekly activity: aqua fit!
John has been attending his local aqua fit class for the past few months, and the impact has been incredible. Deputy Manager Rachel told us, “John’s confidence has grown tremendously since attending. He’s become a key member of the group, and everyone welcomes him. He loves singing along to the music and is encouraged by the other attendees—he’s somewhat of a star there!”
Inspired by John’s enthusiasm, Carol—who joined the residential service late last year—was encouraged to give it a try too. She was excited to get involved, even heading out with staff to choose a brand-new costume for the occasion. On the day of her first class, she walked to the leisure centre with John and team member Katlyn, and absolutely loved it. Rachel shared, “Carol was singing along with John during the session. It’s heartwarming to see how much she enjoyed it and how eager she was to go again.”
Now, both John and Carol attend most weeks, supported by team members who even join them in the pool. The sessions have become a regular highlight, promoting health, independence, and brilliant social interaction. Staff love seeing the difference it's making. As Rachel put it, “It’s clear how much John and Carol enjoy the sessions—and how much the other attendees enjoy seeing them too.”
But the positive changes haven’t stopped at the pool. John has also been following a healthy eating plan and attends a local keep fit class independently. He walks there on his own and meets a volunteer, a routine he really enjoys. Since starting aqua fit, John has been steadily losing weight each month—a huge shift from last year when he was gaining weight. Rachel said, “He’s always so happy to hear he’s lost weight. He’s really proud of himself, and we’re incredibly proud of him too.”
Carol has also embraced the healthy lifestyle. After their class, John and Carol enjoy walking to the bakery together, where they pick out a healthy lunch and order with staff support. It’s a lovely routine that blends fitness, food, fun—and plenty of friendly faces along the way.
Their next goal? Keep up the healthy habits, continue building skills, and enjoy every step of the journey. As Rachel summed up, “We’re really proud of how John and Carol have committed to improving their health and wellbeing. Seeing the joy these activities bring gives us such a sense of pride in what our staff and the people we support are achieving.”
Well done, John and Carol—you’re doing an amazing job, and we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!
