Three of British Swimming’s biggest names have pledged their support for the Speedo Swim United program, which aims to ensure that all children leaving primary school in the UK in 2025 should be able to self-rescue, or swim 25m.
Triple Olympic gold medal winner Adam Peaty, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and recently retired international swimmer and campaigner Michael Gunning have joined forces with Speedo, the Black Swimming Association, Swim England and Active Black Country. Together, they are seeking too highlight the growing issue of more and more children being unable to swim.
Swim England research has found that one in four children who leave primary school were unable to swim 25m. Although swimming is part of the UK National Curriculum and all primary schools receive funding for swimming lessons, its use is not ring-fenced and is therefore at risk of not being used on this vital life-skill.
Speedo Swim United is calling on the public to pledge their support and sign a Change.org petition. This asks the UK Government to:
- Ring-fence funding provided to schools for swimming lessons and include this as part of Ofsted inspections to ensure all children leave primary school able to swim.
- Provide urgent support for swimming pool operators to remain open amid rising energy costs and to enable them to increase pool time for swimming lessons and train new teachers.
- Invest in community engagement to reach community groups who may face cultural and systemic barriers to swimming.
The children unable to swim are also most likely to come from low income, Black and Asian backgrounds. The work of the Black Swimming Association is helping to increase understanding of the social, cultural, practical and economic barriers that these children and their families face, which can inform new programmes that are more effective in helping them learn to swim.
Olympian Adam Peaty said “Swimming is a fundamental life skill, and to hear that one in four children leave primary school without being able to swim is a truly shocking statistic which highlights the urgency needed to tackle this rapidly-growing issue which needs long-term, systemic change.
“We have just seen the greatest ever performance from a Team GB swimming squad at the Olympics, but it means nothing if we are not using that momentum to help inspire the next generation of swimmers.
“This isn’t just about sport or meeting curriculum requirements, it’s about physical and mental health and, most importantly, saving lives and safeguarding our children. We need the Government to support campaigns and initiatives such as Speedo Swim United if we are to give ourselves the best chance of success in the future.”
Global Brand Director at Speedo, Kev McFadyen said “Today marks an important milestone in Speedo’s Swim United programme as we announce a shared ambition with our partners – the Black Swimming Association, Swim England and Active Black Country.
“We are calling on the public, swimmers, coaches, teachers as well as other brands and organisations to pledge their support via our Change.org petition. And together we are calling on the UK Government to intervene – a move that will surely save lives.
“In Adam Peaty, Ellie Simmonds and Michael Gunning we have the backing of some the UK’s most iconic swimmers, and we also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these fantastic swim organisations in a shared mission to ensure that 1 in 4 does not become 6 in 10.”
