Barrow Forward
The aim of Barrow Park Leisure Centre is to reduce health inequalities across the area, making healthy lifestyle choices accessible and attainable for EVERYONE.
Our car park has five spaces specifically for disabled badge holders and there are dropped curbs around the centre to help with wheelchair access, along with automatic doors into the building and a lowered section of the reception desk for those seated in a wheelchair.
Once inside the building, you will find:
- Lifts to all floors.
- Accessible ground floor changing room with track, hoist, and electric bed (ask for the key at reception).
- Accessible toilet on the ground floor.
- Accessible toilet and shower, including rails, on the first floor along with user-friendly lockers for people in wheelchairs.
- We have a pool pod for easy access into the water. The Lifeguards can assist you in using this.
- Our pool is deck level so you can hold onto the top of the pool for stability
- The showers in the ground floor ladies and men’s changing rooms have hand rails
The gym on the second floor features some wheelchair-friendly machines.
Please note, some doors are quite heavy to use and if you need assistance, please ask a member of staff who will be more than happy to help you.
Have a health condition and need advice on how to get back to swimming? Please follow the link below.
More useful information
Lockers in the ground floor ladies and gents changing rooms take a 50p piece, while those in the ground floor family changing room take a £1 coin.
The first floor changing rooms lockers use padlocks. You can bring your own or buy one from reception for £5.
If you are swimming with us
Correct swimming attire must be worn at all times. This means:
Adults: Swimming trunks, Swimming shorts, Knee-length shorts including board shorts, Lycra leggings, including below the knee, Short and long sleeve close fitting t-shirts, Bikinis/tankinis, Swimming costumes & Swim dresses
Children: Swimming trunks, Swimming shorts, Bikinis/tankinis, Swimming costumes, Float suits, Neoprene ‘float jackets’, Knee and elbow-length suits, Swim nappies (swim nappies must be worn by children not toilet trained).
T-shirts and shorts can be worn in the pool over your swimsuit, but they must be fitted, and not baggy as oversized items and heavy fabrics can drag you down when they get wet
WHAT IS A POOLPOD?
Poolpod lifts give you independent, comfortable access to the pool, getting you swimming quickly and easily.
Unlike traditional pool hoists, you can operate Poolpod yourself, using one of the specially designed wristbands, to access the pool independently.
WHO IS POOLPOD FOR?
Poolpod lifts are perfect for anyone who might find it more difficult to access a swimming pool by using a ladder or steps, such as:
- Parents with young children
- Wheelchair users
- Older adults
- Pregnant women
- People recovering from injuries
- Anyone with limited mobility
HOW TO USE IT?
Poolpod lifts are easy and intuitive to use. If you’re a regular user, you can get a wristband to use the lift independently. If you don’t have a wristband, simply ask one of the poolside team who will be able to assist you.
A quick tour of our facilities
On the ground floor: we have our reception area, café, automated gates, sports hall, soft play and sensory room, functional gym, men’s, women’s and family changing rooms, vending machines and an accessible toilet.
On the first floor: we have the dance studio, women’s and men’s changing facilities and an accessible changing room with toilet, shower and wheelchair-friendly lockers, the spin room, viewing for the sports hall, Barrow Exercise and Therapy Scheme (BEATS) office and staff offices.
The main gym is situated on the second floor.
