The project to build a specialist therapy pool for adults with disabilities in Dorset will be based at the local charity’s activity and therapy centre, The Beehive, which supports up to 50 adults and children supported by the charity will also have access to the therapy.

At present, Diverse Abilities is unable to provide the high level of therapy needed by ever growing numbers of adults with disabilities. This is largely due to medical progress which is enabling many children with incredibly complex disabilities to survive into adult hood where they previously would not. The charity is able to offer hydrotherapy to children at its specialist school but has no facilities to continue this once they become adults.

Most adults supported by Diverse Abilities are unable to use public pools due to the low temperature and poor accessibility, and there are no warm pool facilities in Dorset dedicated to providing therapy for adults with lifelong disabilities.

There are a range of benefits of a therapy pool for adults with disabilities. These include reducing pain, relieving muscle spasms, improving mobility, psychological well-being and achieving the freedom of movement that cannot be achieved on land. Helen Mortimer, development manager at Diverse Abilities, said, “Our vision for the therapy pool is to truly transform lives. The new pool is extremely important to these adults. Without it, we will not be able to meet the increasingly complex needs of adults as they grow and develop.”

Diverse Abilities needs to raise £1million to build the pool.

To find out more please visit www.diverseabilities.org.uk/splash, email splash@diverseabilities.org.uk or call the charity on 01202 718266.