Ebony Shaw from Hoyland is the lucky winner of a brand new laptop, which she won through a recent competition organised by Barnsley Premier Leisure, (BPL).

Ebony was chosen at random from over 60 other 11- to 19-year-olds in the region that had enrolled onto the free swimming lessons initiative, launched earlier this year.

The free lessons, which were funded through the Amateur Swimming Association and Barnsley Metropolitan Council in conjunction with BPL, have been a huge success in encouraging secondary school age pupils to learn to swim.

Eleven year old Ebony signed up at Hoyland Leisure Centre for the free lessons, after hearing about them through her school. Before the lessons, she severely lacked in confidence when in and around swimming pools and had to wear armbands at all times.

Now, after successfully completing the block of eight lessons, Ebony is a lot more confident in water, she can now swim adequately and thoroughly enjoys her time in the pool. She comfortably passed her Level 1 and 2 Dolphin Badges whilst on the programme and learnt all the basic skills of swimming.

Claire Shaw, Ebony's mother, explains: "Ebony has always been an outgoing, fun loving child, but when it came to water, and swimming pools in particular, she was extremely nervous, which stopped her from swimming on holidays and having fun with the family.

"Like any parent, I was anxious when the instructors decided to let Ebony swim without her armbands, just as when stabilisers get taken off a bike for the first time. But all the BPL instructors put Ebony at ease and to see her swimming unaided brought a tear to my eye. I would like to thank all the Hoyland Leisure Centre Instructors for teaching Ebony how to swim, it has given her so much more confidence and it's great to see her enjoying her self in the water."

Edward Lim, Swimming Development Officer for BPL, said: "The free swimming lessons have been a great success and it is fantastic to see how dozens of young people in the region can now swim which has helped them stay fit, healthy and safe in and around water."

As well as Hoyland Leisure Centre, BPL offers some of the best swimming tuition in the country at four other venues in South Yorkshire, including the Metrodome, Dearneside and Royston Leisure Centres and Wombwell Swimming Pool. All BPL swimming instructors are fully qualified to the national recognised ASA teaching structure and they have also achieved the renowned STAmark.