A SCHOOL project that helps hundreds of youngsters in York learn to swim has been nominated for a Community Pride Award.

Carr Junior School in Acomb has had a swimming pool for many years, but last year it faced closure as it needed expensive repairs.

But careful consideration – which saw the site manager Jon Fennell design a steel fabrication to support the pool, which was then made by local blacksmiths at a fraction of the cost – means children and babies from across the city still have the chance to learn to swim.

Head teacher Caroline Ryder, nominating the pool as the Best Primary School Project, said: “The pool is used by about 90 children a week from our school during curriculum time for learning to swim, children from Poppleton Road School and Fishergate who have their swimming lessons with us.

“Two hundred children have after school and Saturday lessons and three mornings a week we have young babies and their careers swim to introduce them to the joys of water. We feel that the pool provides a vital lifesaving resource for a community which is surrounded by the River Ouse and numerous ponds and becks.”

A council officer who is “courteous, conscientious and hardworking” and helps keep the city clean and tidy has been nominated as Public Sector Hero.

David Dalton, a rapid response officer in waste management is described by Clifton councillor Helen Douglas as “a great worker” who “goes out of his way and works tirelessly”.

She said: “He is flexible, works with everyone, embraces payback workers, is obliging and goes out of his way to pick up dumped furniture as he passes by as well as the jobs he is sent by the council.”

Meanwhile, sports enthusiast Pat Baxter has been nominated as Volunteer Of The Year for devoting 50 years to York City Baths Club.

Pat, 82, joined the club in 1938 as an eight-year-old girl and began coaching children and young people to swim competitively 50 years ago.

She trains 25 swimmers, cycling to sessions three times a week.

In nomination Kevin Neale and Caroline Ryder said: “Pat’s dedication is legendary... Pat has an incredibly postitive attitude and is a wonderful role model for the children she works with. They are inspired by her as a coach and enjoy their training sessions.”

The Community Pride Awards are held in partnership with City of York Council and are sponsored by Benenden Health.