THE Dolphin Centre in Bromsgrove offers a vast range of leisure and sports activities for both adults and children, all under one roof in a convenient town centre location.

Countless children have been taught the essential life skill of swimming in the small, child-friendly pool before graduating to the main pool, with a comprehensive programme of lessons taking place daily. Local schools continue to bring pupils to the Dolphin Centre for lessons, and it's never too late for adults to learn or improve with the help of an expert instructor. Classes for parents and toddlers as well as pre-schoolers also take place, as do low-impact water aerobics sessions.

Both pools are available for hire for a special event or a party - kids can enjoy playing with the inflatable water toys and rafts while their parents relax in the knowledge that two lifeguards are on standby and various swimming aids can be provided. Children were also thrilled by a visit from Roboshark earlier this year, when the remote-controlled robotic fish took to the water alongside brave swimmers.

In addition to water-based fun, the centre provides plenty of activities on dry land, such as a trampoline club, junior badminton and football coaching, and dance and art clubs for kids. Under-fives recreation sessions include the use of climbing frames, a bouncy castle and a soft play area, while extra activities operate during the school holidays.

For adults, aerobics, circuits, badminton, netball and yoga are offered, and a special badminton club operates for the over-50s - this age group can also take advantage of a dedicated gym session. The Fitness Suite features 36 pieces of cardio-vascular and resistance equipment, plus a satellite music system and air conditioning. After an initial induction, you can pay monthly or per session to use the facility, and receive a personalised workout programme from a qualified instructor.

As well as being one of the town's most popular assets, the centre has recently received recognition for the quality of its services under the Quest Scheme, an award developed by Sport England to raise the standard of sporting facilities nationwide. The Dolphin Centre was visited by assessors and maintained its Quest Quality Assurance Accreditation, remaining in the top 25 per cent in the UK and receiving special praise for the recent refurbishments.