Hackney burns survivor floats free swimming scheme

Making a splash: Sylvia Mac is a former swimming instructor. Photograph: Love Disfigure

A Hackney resident is making waves with free swimming sessions which help people with disfigurements overcome crippling body image fears.

The pilot scheme is the brainchild of campaigner Sylvia Mac, who was severely burnt as a four-year-old after falling into boiling hot water.

Sylvia, who runs the Love Disfigure blog, said: “For most of my childhood I spent my time trying to find the most solid swimming costume I could to cover up as many of my burn scars as possible, but I realised I wasn’t happy with myself and something had to change.”

The former swimming instructor got in touch with Better leisure centres, who agreed to provide pool space and a first swim for free for people with disfigurements.

The informal, fortnightly sessions are held at Highbury Pool in Islington. People are invited to just turn up on the day and enjoy some time in the water with support from others who understand what they might be experiencing.

Family and friends can join in too but will have to pay the usual fee.

Sylvia added: “I know from these sessions there are people with disfigurements who want to go swimming with their children, but they don’t because they are worried about how people will react, either staring or judging them in some way.

“I would urge them not to let other people’s lack of understanding get in their way and, if they can, come and join us at a session and get some support with making that first splash.”

Sylvia is also taking part in a ‘Face Equality’ campaign being run by leading disfigurement charity Changing Faces, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. She is raising funds by swimming 25 lengths a day for 25 days.

The charity drive calls for people to be treated fairly and equally irrespective of facial or body appearance.

Better’s engagement manager Katie Ellis said: “We are delighted to be able to support Sylvia with these swimming sessions and with her vital campaign around disfigurement. As a social enterprise, we exist to support the community and that means helping to highlight ‘Face Equality’.”

The next swimming session takes place this Saturday at 3pm. For more information please visit Love Disfigure’s events page here.

Anyone wishing to support Sylvia in her fundraising efforts for Changing Faces can visit her JustGiving page here.