THREE teenage swimming instructors have found themselves in at the deep end as they support East Renfrewshire’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Rebecca Hickey, 17, and Emma Barbour and Zoe Jamieson, both 18, are used to making a splash whilst teaching youngsters to swim at the Barrhead Foundry and leisure centres in Neilston and Eastwood.

With these venues currently closed due to the lockdown rules, the trio have stepped up to volunteer as cleaners and wardens at the Covid-19 community assessment hub at Eastwood Health and Care Centre, keeping the public safe by directing traffic, assisting patients and advising nurses of arrivals for testing.

Robert Hammond, of East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, told the Barrhead News: “We are proud of the important work that Zoe, Rebecca and Emma are doing to help keep people safe in our local community.

“Their roles are essential in keeping the traffic flowing properly, helping patients who arrive, keeping the nurses informed and maintaining a calm environment.”

Employees from across East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure have been volunteering in a number of ways, from driving roles to helping with food parcels at the local humanitarian hub.

Rebecca, from Barrhead, said: “We stop the cars and ask them why they are here – whether it’s for a normal appointment or an assessment for Covid – and direct them to the correct place.

“I enjoy it and it gets me out of the house for a few hours but I miss my swim classes and can’t wait to eventually get back to work.”

Zoe, from Newton Mearns, added: “The main part of the role is ensuring people going for the Covid-19 assessment use a different entrance to those using the health centre for other purposes.

“I am really missing my swim classes – they are so much fun to take and make up such a huge part of my day-to-day life. I’m definitely looking forward to taking the lessons again.”

Emma, also from Newton Mearns, currently works at the Eastwood hub four mornings per week.

She said: “I made myself available for any form of volunteering, so I was delighted when this opportunity came up.

“I’m really enjoying the work at the centre and have made new friends from it too.”