At Magna Vitae, we’re incredibly proud of the stories our customers share with us — but it’s not just our members who inspire us.
Our staff, too, have amazing journeys worth celebrating. Today, we’re shining a light on one of those journeys: Laura’s.
Laura joined our Magna Vitae family in Mablethorpe ready for a change. She spotted a casual role on Facebook, applied and started out just helping with cleaning shifts. At the time, she was just looking for some extra income alongside another job.
“I never thought that I’d be able to do more than just cleaning, because that’s all I’d ever done anyway.”
Fast forward and the story is very different.
Growing with Magna Vitae
Since joining, Laura has thrown herself into training and qualifications, building skills she never thought possible. She’s now:
- Qualified in Level 2 Gym Instructing
- Completed Emergency First Aid and Mental Health training
- Trained in customer service
- Preparing to complete a Seated Exercise course to lead classes
- Makaton trained
It hasn’t just been about professional development, either. Laura’s journey has been deeply personal too…
Taking the Plunge – Learning to Swim
For years, swimming felt out of reach for Laura. She admits she was “petrified of the water” and worried about how others might see her. Add in the fact she has epilepsy and the thought of getting in a pool felt even more daunting.
But working at a venue with a pool — and being surrounded by supportive colleagues and members — gave her the push she needed. “The hardest part was the first day,” she says. “I nearly turned back around. But I kept saying to myself, Elaine [her swim teacher] is coming just for me. I can’t let her down.”
Now, Laura can swim 15 metres breaststroke, is learning front crawl and backstroke and — perhaps most importantly — she’s found a new confidence in the water.
Inspiring Others
What makes Laura’s story even more powerful is how she uses it to encourage others. She has already inspired other adults in the community to join swimming lessons, even offering to meet them beforehand so they feel less anxious.
“I just want to encourage more adults to give it a go. There’s so much for kids, but adults can feel embarrassed. I want people to see it’s never too late to learn.”
The Sky’s the Limit
Laura is quick to point out that she hasn’t done it alone, though. Laura is especially grateful to her swim teacher: “Elaine has been amazing and so patient with me — I honestly couldn’t have done it without her.” She also thanks her colleagues at Magna Vitae for their constant encouragement and support as well as members that have been keen to hear updates and cheer her on.
From starting out as a casual cleaner to training across different areas of the venue, learning new qualifications, facing her biggest personal fears, to setting her sights on completing her NPLQ (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification) one day, Laura’s story shows just how much can happen when you take that first step.
At Magna Vitae, we believe in giving people opportunities to grow and Laura has grabbed every single one with both hands. Laura’s journey is a powerful reminder that ‘finding your fit’ isn’t just about fitness — it’s about discovering new strengths, embracing change and inspiring others along the way. And for Laura, the sky really is the limit.
Are you ready?
Think you are ready to take your first steps into learning to swim?
Take a look at our Adult Swimming lessons today!
