Speedo, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has launched Swim United – which has a mission of tackling the barriers to swimming faced by many families in the UK. The company notes that these barriers could be cultural, financial or systemic.
Swim United is positioned as a long-term commitment, developed in partnership with Better (the UK’s largest provider of swimming lessons) and with the support of the Black Swimming Association.
Phase one will engage 40 schools across London, aimed at igniting children’s interest in swimming through activity packs and 1,200 intensive two-week swim courses. This will run through the schools and swimming pools operated by Better, helping young swimmers build confidence and skills in and around the water.
Swim United was developed as a response to research from Sport England and the Black Swimming Association, which shows that children from marginalised communities and minority groups are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning to swim at primary school.
Only 42% of children going to school in the most deprived areas of the UK are able to swim, compared to 86% in the least deprived areas.
Additionally, 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children in England do not swim; and 93% of Asian adults and 78% of Asian children in England also do not swim, while an estimated 532,000 children from ethnically-diverse communities have missed out on swimming lessons due to the pandemic.
To help change this, Swim United aims to help break down some of the barriers that families face when it comes to swimming, with an ambition to make swimming more equitable. Swim United also features three life stories from families who have overcome their own personal challenges of swimming.
Global Brand Director at Speedo, Kev McFadyen said “We are committed to getting more children swimming and helping families enjoy time in the water together.
“We believe that swimming is for everyone and want to help break down some of the barriers that marginalise communities, making them feel like swimming isn’t for them.
“It was important for us to work in partnership with the Black Swimming Association and Better, the UK’s largest provider of swimming lessons, in order to establish the Swim United programme and effect meaningful change.
“As a collective, we are wholeheartedly committed to swimming for all and Swim United is just the beginning.”
www.speedo.com/swim-united.list
