From today, thousands of Derbyshire residents aged 16 and under or over 60 will be able to claim free swimming passes as part of a national Government initiative to promote healthy exercise. Jonny Birkin takes a look at how swimmers and pools across the county have been getting ready to take the plunge.

AS Oliver Davidson sprang from the side of the pool and dived into the water, the sound of the cheering spectators was instantly drowned out.

He powered along, every stroke bringing him closer to the dream of a gold medal.

At a swimming competition in Derbyshire earlier this month, Oliver clinched gold in the 50m and 200m backstroke and the 100m individual medley, as well as seven silver and two bronze medals.

But Oliver is not an Olympic athlete – he is an 11-year-old boy and just one of thousands expected to make the most of a free swimming scheme launching across the county today.

Swim4life offers free passes to anyone aged over 60 or under 16, with the aim of encouraging more people to get into the sport.

Oliver, who is a member of Long Eaton Swimming Club and Derventio eXcel, said he hoped it would encourage more people to take to the water.

The youngster, of Fosbrook Drive, Castle Donington, said: "I really enjoy swimming because it's a fun thing to do and it helps to get you really fit.

"Giving young people free swimming passes will be great because it will make it easier for people's friends to go to the pool as well.

"When I go swimming I don't see many people my age, so if more and more children get into it it'll be even better because you make a lot of friends through the sport."

Swim4life runs from today until the end of March 2011 and more than 600 under-16s and over-60s have signed up in Derby alone.

The £140m Government-funded scheme will see the introduction of passes which can be used at swimming pools run by local authorities up and down the country. Over the next two years, councils across Derbyshire will receive a total of just under £1.8m to run the scheme.

Derby City Council has been allocated more than £426,000.

Councillor Joe Naitta, cabinet member for leisure and culture at the city council, said Swim4life had already been well received by the public.

He said: "We want to encourage people in Derby to be more active and free swimming for over-60s and under-16s is a great way to do this."

"Swimming is good for your health, it's an effective way to get fit, it can be a life-saving skill and it's great fun.

"We want to see people taking advantage not only of the free swimming but also of the new activities and sessions we have introduced."

The council has also been given a one-off grant of more than £71,000, which has been used to fund improvements to the city's two public pools taking part – Moorways Leisure Centre, in Allenton, and Queen's Leisure Centre, in Cathedral Road.

Helen Carpmail, swimming pool manager at Moorways, in Moor Lane, said a key part of the scheme was to encourage people who might not have thought about swimming to take the plunge.

She said: "Swim4life is a really good idea and hopefully it will encourage more people to participate in swimming by making it a lot more accessible for them.

"We're expecting to see a lot of interest in Swim4life and we're gearing up to be very, very busy over the Easter break because of it."

Some of the cash given to the city council has been used to improve the Moorways centre, including the introduction of specially designed, removable steps which make it easier for elderly swimmers to get in and out of the water.

Both the Moorways and Queen's leisure centres have also changed their programmes to give new swimmers the chance to take up the sport at their own pace.

Included in this is a series of water confidence classes, designed to encourage older people who may have shied away from swimming to take the plunge.

Michelle Mitchell, director of charities Age Concern and Help the Aged, praised the scheme.

She said: "It's fantastic news that many older people across the country will be able to swim their way towards a healthier lifestyle in their local pool."

Swim4life has also been backed by many top athletes, including Derbyshire-born Olympic swimmer Ross Davenport, who was helping to launch the scheme at Victoria Park Leisure Centre, in Ilkeston, today.

Ross, from Belper, said: "Swimming is a great social activity that people can enjoy with their family or friends and you don't have to be an Olympic swimmer to have fun.

"It's a great life skill as well, and it's a really good way of keeping fit."

To apply for one of the Swim4life passes, visit any of the swimming pools taking part in the scheme or contact your local council.