Mendip School, the special school based on the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet, is beginning a year-long appeal to raise the £1.1 million needed to build a new swimming pool.

When the school was built there was not funding in place to include a pool. The school has now been running for five years and will be increasing the facilities available to students and the community.

Planning permission was granted earlier this year and now the Mendip School is excited about sharing the plans with the community and the opportunities it will bring students.

Students currently are able to swim for one term a year if they can cope with the hour-long round trip to another pool.

The Mendip School is keen to increase access to swimming for all students, just like their mainstream peers.

Swimming is an essential skill to provide lifelong health and wellbeing skills, and for personal safely.

Evidence suggests a strong link between physical activity and the reduced risk of so called lifestyle diseases such as coronary heart disease and obesity, hypertension, cancer and osteoporosis as well as improved mental health.

Those with learning disabilities are twice as likely to be obese and have, on average, a 17-year reduced life expectancy, according to Mencap.

A spokesperson for the school told Shepton Mallet Nub News: "Sport England Active Lives surveys have shown that 43.1 per cent of adults with learning disabilities are classed as inactive, compared to the national average of 25.2 per cent.

"Evidence also suggests that mental health problems may be higher in people with a learning disability than in those without a learning disability.

"The pool aims to provide a solution to help towards some of these issues for students and the wider community.

"The school is excited about the opportunity to offer the community a pool for lessons, health, fitness and private hire.

"This will create another community hub and much-needed recreational opportunity for all local residents."

The school is planning a community sponsored walk in Collett Park, Shepton Mallet, on September 28, regulations allowing, and would love to hear from people if they would be interested in helping with fundraising or taking part.