Policies

All members, casual users and Dolphin Centre Card holders can book from 8am, 7 days in advance of their class or session. They can do this online, over the phone or at The Dolphin Centre reception.

On request, all members must produce their card to validate their membership type.

All customers are required to check in for their classes or sessions at reception or using one the self-service kiosk. We have two kiosks, one is located on the ground floor close to the changing village and one is located on the first floor near our baby change room. 

It is the customers responsibility to ensure all contact details are correct so we can notify them of any cancelations or changes to their booking. 

We ask that paying casual customers give us 24 hours notice to cancel their place, failure to do so may result in us not being able to refund payment unless we can resell the place.

Dolphin Centre members, can cancel their booking up to 24 hours before the start of the class / session.

Failure to cancel or cancelling within 24 hours may result in a £1 non arrival charge being applied to their Leisure Hub account. This will result in their membership being in default and will restrict access to the facilities and unable to make further bookings. 

The account will be unlocked on receipt of paying off any debt which can be made via the my debts section of their Leisure Hub account or at The Dolphin Centre reception. 

We advise all Dolphin Centre members to cancel their bookings as soon as possible either online or via The Dolphin Centre reception. This will allow the ‘notify me’ action to be triggered via email to let other members know spaces are available.

Customers must be over 14 years old to use the gym on their own.

Juniors aged 11-13 years old can access the gym with an adult customer (16 years+) during our opening times.

Juniors aged 11-13 years can access the gym without an adult during our controlled junior gym sessions. 

All customers using the gym for the first time must have an induction and complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

Juniors aged 11-13 can complete their induction and PARQ as part of our junior gym sessions. 

Suitable for children up to the age of 10. To access our casual soft play area, all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged over 16 years old.

• no photography/video allowed without permission
• no food, drink or chewing gum on the soft play
• no glassware
• remove shoes before entering the play area - but wear socks at all times
• arms and legs should be covered
• remove all jewellery, badges and other sharp objects
• children who are unwell should not use the play equipment
• leave all personal items with parents/guardians
• no liability will be accepted for losses, damages or theft

Visitors to swimming pools are reminded to:

1. Shower before using the pool
2. Shower on leaving the pool
3. Follow the necessary hygiene precautions when visiting public places to help reduce the risk of infection. These include washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze and do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
4. If you feel unwell, please avoid using the pool.

Swim England are the national governing body for swimming, they will be following the latest information and assessing risk as appropriate to stay up to date visit the Swim England website [external link]

• We have 57 changing cubicles in the changing village, 16 of which are larger family changing cubicles and eight have baby-changing beds.
• There are 19 showers, 7 of which are fully private showers.
• There are separate male and female toilet areas.
• There are three hairdryers, which are free of charge.
• All lockers cost £1.20, of which £1 is refundable.

We are is committed to creating equal access for everyone. Please see details of the Changing Places Registration Scheme for provision we provide at the Dolphin Centre.

The temperature of the pools is maintained between 28º - 30ºC, in line with industry recommendations. 

Our Toddler Pool is fitted with a heat exchanger which enables this pool to be heated individually. The temperature for this pool is maintained between 30º - 31ºC.

All our pool lifeguards are qualified to the national standards required by The Royal Lifesaving Society [external link]. We expect the highest level of vigilance from our lifeguards at all times, providing a safe and secure environment for all our customers; and as such they are required to carry out lifeguard training at least once every three weeks.

One adult must accompany every two children under eight years, or two non-swimmers under sixteen years. This is in line with best practice from the Royal Lifesaving Society.

Juniors can access the pool without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer (can swim 25 metres and jump in deep water unaided).

Juniors can access the diving boards without an adult if they are over 8, a confident swimmer and can exit the diving pool unaided. Juniors under the age of 8 must be supervised in the area by an adult, a confident swimmer and able to exit the diving pool unaided.  The use of swimming aids and goggles is prohibited.

Juniors can access the slides without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer. Juniors under the age of 8 or using swimming aids must be accompanied by an adult. 

Juniors can access the diving boards without an adult if they are over 8, a confident swimmer and can exit the diving pool unaided. Juniors under the age of 8 must be supervised in the area by an adult, a confident swimmer and able to exit the diving pool unaided.  The use of swimming aids and goggles is prohibited.

Juniors can access the slides without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer. Juniors under the age of 8 or using swimming aids must be accompanied by an adult.

The toddler pool is open to all juniors under 8 years old who must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

The following items are not allowed in the pool:

• baggy, see-through or ripped swimwear
• t-shirts
• vest tops
• skirts
• sarongs
• denim jeans
• cut-offs
• shorts with studs
• belts
• shorts longer than just below the knee
• underwear or thongs

Provision will be made for cultural requirements and medical conditions.

Do not wear swimming goggles if you are using the slides or diving boards.

• Do not enter the swimming pool if you are suffering or have suffered from diarrhoea within the previous 48 hours. If you have been diagnosed with Cryptosporidiosis [external link], do not swim until you have been free of symptoms for 14 days.
• Visit the toilet before you swim and always wash your hands after using the toilet.
• You are required to shower before entering the pool - if everyone does this properly, it will improve water quality and reduce the risk of contamination.
• All infants who are not toilet trained must wear an aqua-nappy. Do not change nappies on poolside.
• If the pool is contaminated by vomit, blood or faeces, report it to a member of staff immediately.
• Customers are not permitted to swim in underwear when swimming at the Dolphin Centre. Appropriate and proper swimming attire must be worn at all times. Swimwear can be purchased from our swimwear merchandise stand that is located in the reception foyer area.

Bather loading in the Dolphin Centre pools complex is controlled by coloured wrist bands. These wrist bands are the locker wrist straps which customers receive when paying for a swim and a locker at the Dolphin Centre reception desk.

The Dolphin Centre uses 5 coloured wrist bands (Green, Red, Blue, Yellow and White) and during peak periods we operate our band callout system to manage and monitor pool users in our pool complex.

During peak periods customers will get a minimum of 60 mins and a maximum of 75 mins swimming time.

Above the poolside office there are coloured lights that you may see flashing. If the coloured light flashing matches your band colour, this indicates that your swimming time is up.

When calling customers out of the pool, the Dolphin Centre staff will also call a siren.

Prams and pushchairs can't be taken onto the poolside. Please use the buggy park in the Changing Village or the one next to the 'Under the sea' soft play area.

We ask that all electronic devices are not used on poolside.

Regular physical activity is fun and healthy, and is safe for most people. If you are planning to be more active than you are now, and are aged 15-69, start by answering the questions below. If you are over 69, check with your doctor first. 

If you answered no to all questions - then you can be reasonably sure that you can start becoming more active, but begin slowly and build up gradually. 

Code of Service is the standard we expect all our staff to deliver when dealing with all customers. Our customers are anyone we come into contact with whilst at work. 

Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated towards customers or members of our team. Please note that CCTV operates within the Centre.

Customers wishing to use such equipment within the Centre must first gain permission from the Centre Management. We ask that all electronic devices are not used on poolside.

Climate change is the most pressing challenge facing the planet today. In 2006. Darlington Borough Council demonstrated its commitment to tackling climate change by signing the Nottingham Declaration. By working with the Carbon Trust through the Carbon Management Programme, the Council has been able to calculate the ‘carbon footprint’ of its operations.

A challenging target of reducing our carbon emissions by 25% over the next 5 years has been set.  This Carbon Management Plan focuses on the practical actions and changes to be undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint of the Council, but it is also recognition of the Council’s responsibility to lead by example. Carbon management is important to the Council as it represents the opportunity to tackle climate change and make cost savings through improved efficiencies which improve value for money for the Borough’s residents.

Travel is an essential part of modern life. Whether you’re commuting to work or school, enjoying trips out with family, visiting friends or picking up a weekly shop, there are a range of travel choices available to you. 

We are committed to saving energy:

1. We use pool covers on two of our pools
2. LED lighting in our Pool Complex
3. Passive Infrared Motion Sensors (PIR sensors) are used within a lot of our corridors, changing rooms and management offices.  Part of our future plans is to get these in all circulation areas
4. We 100% recycle all our paper, glass and cooking oil.  All other waste is put in a compactor, which gets broken down and recycled at the Darlington recycling site
5. Push buttons operate in all of our showers and on our taps, saving water
6. We encourage customers to be more green by accessing information on this website, rather than distributing an excess of leaflets
7. Our pool plant has been upgraded (August 2015-May 2016).  This included installing new lighting and tiles, improvement to the ventilation in this area and the replacement of the waterproof membrane.