A BOURNEMOUTH woman has changed career to help young children after losing her daughter to cancer.

Emma Dobson’s daughter, Zoe, was diagnosed with the rare children’s cancer Neuroblastoma, so she left her career as an architectural technologist to put her family first.

Enjoying those precious moments with Zoe made Emma realise the importance of spending more time with her loved ones.

Zoe sadly lost her battle with the disease and when Emma was ready to return to work, she was keen to ensure those new-found priorities would remain.

So, she became a swimming teacher.

Emma said: “After experiencing a big change in my life when I lost my daughter, my new career has given me so much.”

“It’s helped support me to make sure I’m able to put my family first.”

Emma first became interested in a change of career when taking Zoe to her first swimming parent and child classes.

Now based at Bournemouth’s Littledown BH Live Active, she relishes the chance to teach the youngest swimmers as they have their first experiences in the water.

It is that, coupled with being around her family more, which is what Emma enjoys about her role.

She said: “Swim teaching has given me so much. Working with all kinds of different people, and enjoying a career that suits me and who I am is amazing.

“I love teaching at a pre-school age, meeting new people and seeing what swimming does for them as a bonding activity.

“Seeing the smiles on swimmer’s faces when they achieve something they never thought they could, is so rewarding.

“Knowing you are giving them an essential life skill, it feels like such important work and I am so glad to do it.

As part of a drive to bring more swim teachers into the workforce, Swim England and 10 leading leisure operators have joined forces to inspire more people to become swimming teachers.

For more information visit www.swimming.org/ios/loveswimming.