Drop in number of children learning to swim on Anglesey 'not too concerning'
An Anglesey councillor says he is "not too concerned" over figures showing a decline in demand for children's private swimming lessons at leisure centres.
A drop in demand for the "vital" safety lessons by Môn Actif had been reported last week following a corporate scrutiny meeting.
The details were published in a report about Anglesey County Council's Quarter 4 score-card results for 2024/25. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday
Q4 is the final scorecard for the financial year showing the council's performance against strategic objectives outlined in its Council Plan.
The report had noted target successes and areas where the council's leadership team were "exploring and investigating to manage and improve".
The final Q4 report came before the council's executive today, Tuesday, June 24, presented by Cllr Carwyn Jones.
The report stated that Môn Actif - the brand name for the council's leisure centres - had seen a fall in the average number of children undertaking swimming lessons throughout the year.
In education, Môn Actif had seen the average number of children undertaking swimming lessons throughout the year recorded as 1,747 against a target of 1,900.
The number of Anglesey children on the Nofio Môn Swimming programme in Q4 was 1,682, a slight decline on the Q3 performance of 1695.
"This performance brings the average number for 2024/25 to 1,747. These figures do not include children undertaking swimming lessons through the primary schools, for which 3845 children attended sessions during the 30-week block," it stated.
"Demand for places has decreased and there is currently only one centre with a waiting list. The reasons for the decline in demand remain unknown."
Last week, Councillor Jeff Evans, during the corporate scrutiny meeting, had expressed concern over what he described as a "vital skill," considering that Anglesey was "an island surrounded by water".
Speaking today, portfolio holder for leisure, Cllr Neville Evans, said of the issue: "The press has given this a lot of attention...but these are private lessons offered in the leisure centres, not school swimming lessons.
"This trend on Anglesey is seen in other councils, the numbers are similar to before Covid and lockdown.
"There is regular discussion in leisure centres about numbers, we ask customers for feedback but we don't receive a significant response."
He also noted that the press had given "a lot of attention" to another swimming scheme, the Swim Safe programme. "I was on the beach in Trearddur Bay beach last week, where a number of children from schools across the island attended Swim Safe," he said.
"It is a really positive project, and Môn Actif has won a national award for this scheme, and 500 pupils last year completed the Swim Safe lessons on beaches, it is something we should be proud of."
He added: "The numbers are down, but that is also true across Wales.
"I am not overly concerned by these figures, but we do consider swimming is important for children on the island."
Council leader Cllr Gary Pritchard praised "the excellent work" by Môn Actif in terms of safe swimming sessions, and in teaching youngsters about sea swimming. J oin the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
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