BOURNEMOUTH’S first LGBTQ+ swimming group has just celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The group, LGBTQ+ Swim Bournemouth was created by Andrew Morris and Lizzie Rowden.

After being inspired by LGBTQ+ swim group Out to Swim where the pair had met, they had the plan to bring similar services to Bournemouth.

Andrew said: "Beyond promoting physical and mental well-being, inclusive sports provide a strong sense of belonging and community, something that can often be lacking for LGBTQ+ individuals."

Out to Swim is a club that operates in London, Brighton and Bristol.

Lizzie’s daughter is a member of the Bristol club and even though Andrew is from Poole, he swims with Out To Swim in London.

 Andrew said: “When I originally joined Out To Swim it completely changed my life because I was able to turn up to this group and do something that I loved.”

“It’s an amazing thing to be able to join and swim and stay active with a community of people who become your family.”

For their one-year anniversary the team celebrated with a party at Pride Bar in The Triangle. 

Andrew stated that: "It was the perfect way to mark this milestone together."

They attended Bournemouth Pride earlier this year for the first time and were overwhelmed with the support they received.

Andrew said: “We had an absolutely fantastic response.”

The sessions are run by Lizzie as she is the coach and a qualified swim teacher at the BH Live Active sites.

Lizzie states how the mental benefits are great, but she also wants to focus on the physical benefits.

She said: “I want people to leave having made new friends but also getting fitter and learning a new skill.”

The group meet twice a week, on Saturdays and Wednesdays across three BH Live Active sites, such as Stokewood, Pelhams and Littledown.

The group’s main goal for the moment is to find a “more permanent home,” said Andrew.

At the moment all the sessions are in public spaces, and that can get complicated with large groups of people.

Therefore, they’re after a local pool operator who would allow them to hire out their own private lane, so they can deliver coaching without getting in the way of other swimmers.

Lizzie is keen for this club to transform people's confidence. 

“I want them to walk out with their heads held a little bit higher and a little bit more confident in themselves.”