Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, formally launched Notty’s New Hat on 27 May following the final of their exciting ‘Read and Swim’ events across City leisure centres. The event featured Nottingham-raised CBeebies and Waterloo Road star, Shauna Shim, who captivated children with a reading of Notty’s New Hat at Ken Martin Leisure Centre on 27 May 2025.
Pictured centre, Shauna Shim and children local to Ken Martin Leisure Centre
Children at Clifton, Ken Martin and Djanogly Community Leisure Centre met Notty the Otter, enjoyed fun activities and a Swim for Fun session, following their exclusive reading of the new children’s book.
Notty’s New Hat is a children’s book that follows ‘Notty the Otter’ and their journey to learn how to swim for the first time. The book is the second in the series developed by Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, having already successfully launched Can We Splash? in May 2022, which followed Mo, his sister Yas and the fun they had with their dad on a swimming trip to a Nottingham leisure centre.
Notty’s New Hat is part of an ongoing commitment to increase the number of young children who learn to swim from an early age, and the book aims to engage parents and families, encouraging early uptake of swimming lessons for children under their care.
“It’s time for a bath. It’s time for a scrub.
“But Notty’s not too keen to jump in the tub…”
Extract from Notty’s New Hat
Cllr Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities, said: “We are thrilled about the latest instalment from Active Nottingham and this lovely new picture book, Notty’s New Hat. Notty is beautifully written and illustrated and will help to children and their families, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds to take those first steps into swimming and have fun together.”
Shaun Miles, Head of Communities at Nottingham City Council, said: “Learning to read and swim are essential life skills for every child. We aim to nurture these abilities from a young age, helping children in Nottingham not only enjoy both but also grow in confidence and lead happier and healthier lives.”
Head of Communities, Shaun Miles, with Shauna Shim and two local children
Notty’s New Hat is now available for collection, for free, from any Active Nottingham Leisure Centre or Nottingham City Library. Copies of the book will also be distributed via Nottingham National Literacy Trust, NCC Public Health and other partner organisations to children and families across the city.
Digital PDF copies of the book can also be found on the Notty the Otter website below https://www.activenottingham.com/nottytheotter
Active Nottingham (part of Nottingham City Council) operates six leisure centres providing Nottingham residents access to six swimming pools, six gyms, six health suites and over 300 fitness classes; additionally, Nottingham Swim School provides swimming lessons at six Active Nottingham leisure centres.
Can We Splash? is the first in Active Nottingham’s children’s swimming book series – https://www.activenottingham.com/can-we-splash