Open Minds Active

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Open Minds Active A social enterprise that promotes positive mental health, wellbeing and togetherness in nature

21/10/2026

Swimming has always been part of Wafa's identity.

In RECONNECT, another film from our Water Stories collection, Wafa shares her journey from competitive swimming in Sudan to finding her swimming community here in Bristol.

It's a beautiful story about belonging, friendship and how swimming helped her reconnect with nature, her community and herself.

Created as part of our collaboration around representation in outdoor swimming, with support from Orca and .

We're so grateful to Wafa for sharing her experiences with us. 💙

20/10/2026

Continuing our Black History Month celebrations, we're sharing RECLAIM, one of the incredible films from our Water Stories collection. This was part of a collaboration around representation in outdoor swimming supported by Orca and their .

In this film, Lildonia shares her personal journey of learning to swim, challenging stereotypes and overcoming barriers that once made swimming feel out of reach.

Her story is a powerful reminder of why representation matters, and the joy and freedom that can come from feeling confident and welcome in the water.

Thank you, Lildonia, for sharing your story with us. 🌊

Ensuring diversity and equitable access in swimming and aquatics is incredibly important to us. Over the years, our Wate...
13/10/2026

Ensuring diversity and equitable access in swimming and aquatics is incredibly important to us.

Over the years, our Water Stories have shared the experiences of people who swim in pools and open water, celebrating their journeys while also highlighting the barriers that can prevent others from taking part.
We know that access to swimming isn’t equitable, and changing that is a big part of what we do.

Through our Learn to Swim programme, we’re working to break down barriers, build confidence and create safe, welcoming spaces where more people feel they belong.

Since 2020, we’ve supported over 500 Global Majority women to learn to swim and trained 8 swimming teachers and assistants from diverse communities.

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating the women who have shared their stories with us and continuing the work that matters to us all year round.

Lildonia Lawrence | Anti-Racism Wellbeing Consultant Amie Seemore

🌊 ONE WEEK TO GO!Next Friday, we're welcoming the wonderful Gilly McArthur - Cold Water Swim Coach 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 to West Count...
09/10/2026

🌊 ONE WEEK TO GO!

Next Friday, we're welcoming the wonderful Gilly McArthur - Cold Water Swim Coach 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 to West Country Water Park for an evening of cold water stories, adventure and inspiration! 💙

Gilly will be chatting about her adventures, her book The Beauty of Cold and what makes cold water so special.

There'll be plenty of time for questions, a chance to pick up her book and even an optional evening dip afterwards!

📅 Friday 16 October
⏰ 6pm
📍 West Country Water Park, Bristol
🎟️ Just £5, with proceeds supporting our community programmes.

Whether you're a seasoned cold water swimmer or simply curious about it all, we'd love you to join us.

Grab your ticket ticket for the talk here https://www.openmindsactive.org/events-workshops/an-evening-with-gilly-mcarthur

Fancy a dip afterwards? Remember to book your swim slot separately with West Country Water Park.

💙 We’re looking for swim teachers to join the Open Minds Active team!We know just how much the right support can change...
06/10/2026

💙 We’re looking for swim teachers to join the Open Minds Active team!

We know just how much the right support can change someone’s relationship with the water.

Our swimming sessions are about so much more than learning a stroke. They’re a welcoming space for women to build skills, grow in confidence and enjoy being in the water.

We’re looking for kind, encouraging sessional swim teachers to work with adult Global Majority women at our Bristol sessions.

📍 Hengrove Swimming Pool
🗓 Mondays, 10–11am

📍 Jubilee Swimming Pool, Knowle
🗓 Fridays, 1–2pm

⏰ Term time only
💰 £25 per hour

🏊‍♀️ You’ll need a Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher qualification (or equivalent), plus an NRSTC or NPLQ qualification.

If you’re passionate about teaching swimming and helping people develop their confidence in the water, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]

And please share with any brilliant swim teachers in your network who might be a good fit for OMA 💙

Fancy giving cold water a go this autumn? 🌊Our next Intro to Cold Water Workshop is coming up on 17th October at 10am.If...
02/10/2026

Fancy giving cold water a go this autumn? 🌊

Our next Intro to Cold Water Workshop is coming up on 17th October at 10am.

If you’re new to cold water, feeling a little nervous about getting started, or just want to know how to do it safely, this is a lovely place to begin.

We’ll talk through cold water safety, acclimatisation, what to wear and what happens to your body in colder water. Then we’ll head in together for a supported swim or dip with our coaches and lifeguards 💙

There’s absolutely no pressure to do more than feels right for you. Come with your questions, meet some lovely people and build your confidence at your own pace.

📅 17th October, 10am at West Country Water Park
⏰ 2 hour workshop
🎟️ £30

Spaces are limited.

Book here: https://www.openmindsactive.org/events-workshops/intro-to-cold-water-swimming

Feel like we’re v lucky with these sunny autumn days at the moment!This is Helen, Sarah and Liz. Sarah (middle) is our T...
01/10/2026

Feel like we’re v lucky with these sunny autumn days at the moment!
This is Helen, Sarah and Liz. Sarah (middle) is our Thu lifeguard up at West Country Water Park and she supports all the swimmers and dippers getting in. Liz and Helen are also there from open minds (and Maggy who’s behind the camera)
Always a friendly face there and ready with words of encouragement 😊.

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
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