Trans & Gender Diverse Swim

31/01/2026

I was so delighted when I went swimming on Thursday after being off for a couple of weeks to learn that last Sunday's Trans and Gender Diverse session was not just filled to formal capacity but had more turning up on the door who the staff let in. It shows what many of us have been saying all along that trans people really want to swim but are being held back by barriers including those in Swim England's policy on swimwear in main sessions. If the numbers for Sunday keep at this level pool staff say we'll be able to start planning a second Sunday session along with the Thursdays. Thursday take-up is still lower but there are enough people regularly attending those and these will continue on the calendar. However if you can make a Thursday ever please do try it on that day so we can keep those numbers up too! The staff are also planning to start Trans Gym sessions on a Sunday - more on this soon. Regarding the booking system, this is still irritatingly on the new system where you have to find swimming then training pool then the date to find and book the session, however the management at the centre have been talking to their head office to get this changed as this system, while working for some smaller centres, doesn't work for this (our) one (in part because the drop-down menu doesn't actually name their main pools as they're actually named)! They also see the benefits of actually naming what sessions are on to help promote the range of things they offer! So hopefully this will be changed back soon. On this note tomorrow's session (1st Feb) still has 7 place available so if you're planning on coming book soon. Stay well beautiful people. Love Art ###

28/01/2026

Swimming on tomorrow as usual, still many spaces available. Look under 'Training Pool' and find the date to book. See you there x

17/01/2026

Hi All, Just an update. Tomorrow's Trans and Gender Diverse Swim session is definitely on tomorrow, Sunday 18th January, 1-2pm and there are spaces available. I won't be there as Ms Menopause is doing her thing, and I've suddenly got a period for the first time in months out of the blue! (Apols if this is TMI for some...but you know... older gay trans man etc...we're very blunt! ).Anyway! The issue with the booking system continues as it looks like GLL who are one of the partners managing the Aquatics centre, have changed all their systems to only advertising the pools rather than the different sessions, which is not ideal and the staff at the pool have already raised the iaccess and marketing issues of this with them. For the time being, when you book, the link will take you to a list of swimming pools. Choose 'Training Pool' and then choose the date you want to go and when you go there it'll then say Trans and Gender Diverse Swim. Please remember that the booking only opens 4 days' ahead - so if you want to go on Thursday, wait until Sunday before to book, and if on a Sunday, wait to book until Thursday. I'm writing to Customer Services at GLL to request they put the booking system back to the way it was before Christmas so we can book by session title and not via the pool it's in (because as well as being better access-wise, it actually advertises to anyone looking at the swimming sessions that these are on!!). However if anyone also wants to contact Customer Srvices at GLL about it, here are the details - email: customerservices@gll.org and telephone: 0330 123 1500. Have fun all who are going, and see you soon. Love, Art x

14/01/2026

Re Trans & Gender Diverse Swim - sorry for the ongoing issues - sent this today to the centre - will let you know when I hear back,

'I'm getting lots of messages about the Booking system which apparently is still not showing the Tans and Gender Diverse Swim sessions in the format that was being used before Christmas, and people keep asking me if the sessions are being cancelled. I've had a look and the drop-down menu still just lists the different pools and only gives the session if you go directly to the training pool and then directly to the date. It's pretty unclear and inaccessible, also all the marketing and messages we put out give different information, also it means the direct url link we've put on all the posters isn't working. When I booked last night there were still 30 spaces available, and I'm worried that the continued issue with the booking process is going to halt the good progress we've made on getting people to the sessions.

Will this be fixed soon please and put back to where the drop-down menu displays the different swim sessions on rather than the different pools?

Thanks very much.

Best wishes
Art'

08/01/2026

Swimming is on this Thursday 8th but the booking link is not back to its usual format yet so to book go to 'Training Pool' under the swimming sessions, click on that and choose Thursday's date and the Trans and Gender Diverse Swim link is under that.

06/01/2026

Hi all - reply from the Aquatics Centre - technical blip should be resolved by tomorrow- see reply here.

Hi Art,

Thank you for the email.

Sorry, I have spoken with the manager and it may have crashed or something while the app and system have been getting updated.

The sessions will be going ahead as normal and should be on the app either this evening or tomorrow for people to book

06/01/2026

Hi All, Happy New Year! Apologies for the delay in replying to messages - I've been away and not looking at social networking over the holiday period, also don't have a smart phone, only a nokia, so only access social networking when at a pc which means it takes a bit longer. However, the sessions are still ongoing on Thursdays and Sundays at the usual times, however there are some problems with the booking system at the Manchester Aquatic centre, and I'm trying to get an answer from them about when this will be resolved so please watch this space for further info, and I'll update soon. Love, Art xx

21/12/2025

Update on the session on Sunday 28th. It will go ahead as usual but the Team GB lot are having a one-off session directly after at 2pm, so there will be some crossover in the changing rooms, and some will be waiting on the poolside at the end of the session. These are not general members of the public, but team staff who work in the office and who we'll have seen walking around in and out of that on the poolside in our usual sessions, so they are all bound by the behaviour expectations of poolside employees and are very respectful. They have been advised to be sensitive and respectful while using the changing rooms at the end of our session. I don't forsee any issues but obviously this may not be comfortable for some swimmers, so this is just a heads-up so people can decide whether or not to attend or to leave it for another day. Please note on this day the drop-down menu will just say 'Training Pool' also and not the usual' Trans and gender Diverse Swim.' This is all a one-off and normal conditions will return after Christmas. Hope that all ok.

18/12/2025

Just to let you know, the swimming sessions will be on Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th as usual, not not on the Thursday of Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Book as usual for the 21st, but if booking for the 28th, please note that the drop-down menu will look a bit different. On that day please select the option that says 'training pool'.

Everything will be back to usual Sunday and Thursday flow with the usual booking menu from Sunday 4th and Thursday 8th January.

Have a very merry festive season all, and look forward to seeing you at a session sometime soon.

18/12/2025

Events at Q***r Unity Hub including free Christmas Day dinner.

Join us to eat, volunteer and be with community

10/12/2025

Trans and Gender Diverse Swimming on tomorrow, Thurs 11th 1.30-2.30pm and Sunday, 14th 1-2pm Manchester Aquatics Centre. Places still available. Book tinyurl.com/SwimTrans or just turn up and pay on the door. £6.50 but discounts and concessions apply, also Manchester residents can get further discounts. Ask at the Centre for details.

06/12/2025

Trans and Gender Diverse Swimming on tomorrow, Sunday, Manchester Aquatics Centre 1-2pm. Places still available. Book tinyurl.com/SwimTrans or just turn up and pay on the door. £6.50 but discounts and concessions apply, also Manchester residents can get further discounts. Ask at the Centre for details.