Latest news with #Swim
Edinburgh Reporter
02-07-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Reporter
Thousands of adults and children learn to swim in Scotland
Thousands in Edinburgh learn to swim with the innovative programme MORE than 210,000 people across Scotland have taken the life-changing opportunity to learn to swim, thanks to a pioneering national programme that's making waves in water safety and inclusion. The Learn to Swim National Framework, a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water, has now supported 210,337 children and adults across Scotland to be safer in, on and around water over the last 7 years. Every week, 83,777 children and adults take part in Learn to Swim lessons across Scotland – a 2% increase on last year's total, this includes 8,533 people in Edinburgh. The programme is delivered by 38 leisure trusts and aquatic providers in 167 pools across Scotland, including 13 pools in Edinburgh. Looking ahead, The Learn to Swim Framework now has ambitions to reach a further 50,000 children by 2028. John Lunn, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming, said: 'This is an incredible milestone and testament to the commitment of our delivery partners and instructors across Scotland. 'The Learn to Swim programme continues to play a vital role in helping children and adults build confidence, stay active, and most importantly, stay safer in and around water. To reach more than 210,000 participants is a fantastic achievement.' Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water, said: 'It's fantastic to reach this latest milestone – we are delighted the Learn to Swim programme continues to go from strength to strength –with around 84,000 people of all ages and abilities across Scotland currently taking part in Learn to Swim lessons every week. 'Everyone should be able to enjoy Scotland's miles of rivers, lochs, reservoirs and shorelines safely and with confidence. 'We are proud to work with Scottish Swimming and all the leisure trusts and aquatic providers across the country to create 'Generation Swim', a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer.' Preschool-aged children now make up 20% of the programme, with over 16,000 of Scotland's youngest learners starting their learn to swim journey early. The number of adults taking part in weekly Learn to Swim lessons has also grown, with an 8% increase over the past year, rising from 1,704 to 1,840 participants. Importantly, the programme is committed to creating inclusive, supportive, and quality environments in which individuals can learn to swim regardless of their age, ability or skill level – and the programme is now also reaching more children with disabilities than ever before. There are now 2,745 children with disabilities currently in Learn to Swim lessons, with 81% of them taking part in mainstream lessons, a significant rise from 66% in 2024. This includes children who have completed the programme and are now confident swimmers, the total number of children and adults supported in the last seven years stands at 210,337. This year also marks 10 years since the launch of the Learn to Swim Framework, which has grown year-on-year and now operates in partnership with 38 leisure providers across Scotland. The Learn to Swim Framework developed by Scottish Swimming and delivered by partners across Scotland, ensures consistent quality of swimming lessons through supportive and inclusive learn to swim environments which help children and adults to be confident, safer and competent swimmers. The Framework is delivered in a fun and engaging way, encouraging people to adopt a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle with sport and enjoyment at its heart to reach their full potential both in the pool and out. Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Nearly 5000 people across North Lanarkshire take part in Learn to Swim National Framework
Programme, a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water, has now supported 210,337 children and adults in Scotland to be safer in, on and around water over the past seven years. Nearly 5000 people across North Lanarkshire have taken the life-changing opportunity to learn to swim, thanks to a pioneering national programme making waves in water safety and inclusion. The Learn to Swim National Framework, a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water, has now supported 210,337 children and adults in Scotland to be safer in, on and around water over the past seven years. Every week, 83,777 kids and adults take part in Learn to Swim lessons in Scotland - a two per cent increase on last year's total and including 4719 people in North Lanarkshire. The programme is delivered by 38 leisure trusts and aquatic providers in 167 pools, with eight in North Lanarkshire. Looking ahead, the Learn to Swim Framework has ambitions to reach a further 50,000 children by 2028. John Lunn, chief executive of Scottish Swimming, said: "This is an incredible milestone and testament to the commitment of our delivery partners and instructors across Scotland. "The Learn to Swim programme continues to play a vital role in helping children and adults build confidence, stay active, and most importantly, stay safer in and around water. "To reach more than 210,000 participants is a fantastic achievement." Peter Farrer, chief operating officer at Scottish Water, added: "It's fantastic to reach this latest milestone - we are delighted the Learn to Swim programme continues to go from strength to strength, with around 84,000 people of all ages and abilities across Scotland currently taking part in Learn to Swim lessons every week. "Everyone should be able to enjoy Scotland's miles of rivers, lochs, reservoirs and shorelines safely and with confidence. "We are proud to work with Scottish Swimming and all the leisure trusts and aquatic providers across the country to create 'Generation Swim', a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer." The Learn to Swim Framework developed by Scottish Swimming and delivered by partners across Scotland, ensures "consistent quality of swimming lessons through supportive and inclusive learn to swim environments which help children and adults to be confident, safer and competent swimmers".
09-05-2025
- Health
A swimming coach in Nigeria provides inspiration and life lessons to disabled people
LAGOS, Nigeria -- About 20 children in shorts and vests gather at a swimming pool on a sweltering afternoon in Nigeria's economic hub of Lagos. A coach holds the hand of a boy who is blind as he demonstrates swimming motions and guides him through the pool while others take note. It was one of the sessions with students of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, where Emeka Chuks Nnadi, the swimming coach, uses his Swim in 1 Day, or SID, nonprofit to teach swimming to disabled children. In a country where hundreds drown every year, often because of boat mishaps but sometimes as a result of domestic accidents, the initiative has so far taught at least 400 disabled people how to swim. It has also aided their personal development. 'It (has) helped me a lot, especially in class,' said 14-year-old Fikayo Adodo, one of Nnadi's trainees who is blind. 'I am very confident now to speak with a crowd, with people. My brain is sharper, like very great." The World Health Organization considers drowning as one of the leading causes of death through unintentional injury globally, with at least 300,000 people dying from drowning every year. The most at risk are young children. Many of the deaths occur in African countries like Nigeria, with limited resources and training to avert such deaths. In Nigeria — a country of more than 200 million people, 35 million of whom the government says are disabled — the challenge is far worse for disabled people who have less access to limited opportunities and resources in addition to societal stigma. While the initiative is raising awareness among the children about drowning, it benefits wider society in different ways, Nnadi said, especially 'if you want to have disabled people that are contributing to the economy and not just dependent on us as a society to take care of them.' Nnadi recalled setting up the nonprofit after moving back to Nigeria from Spain in 2022 and seeing how disabled people are treated compared to others. It was a wide gap, he said, and thought that teaching them how to swim at a young age would be a great way to improve their lives. 'There is a thing in Africa where parents are ashamed of their (disabled) kids,' he said. 'So (I am) trying to make people understand that your child that is blind could actually become a swimming superstar or a lawyer or doctor.' 'I find it rewarding (watching) them transform right under my eyes,' Nnadi said of the results of such lessons. Watching them take their lessons, some struggle to stay calm in the water and stroke their way through it, but Nnadi and the two volunteers working with him patiently guide them through the water, often leaving them excited to quickly try again. Some of them said that it gives them pleasure, while it is a lifesaving skill for some and it's therapy for others. Experts have also said that swimming can improve mental well-being, in addition to the physical benefits from exercising. 'Swimming (has) taught me to face my fears, it has (given) me boldness, it has given me courage, it has made me overcome my fears,' said 13-year-old Ikenna Goodluck, who is blind and among Nnadi's trainees. Ejiro Justina Obinwanne said that the initiative has helped her son Chinedu become more determined in life. 'He is selfless and determined to make something out of the lives of children that the world has written off in a lot of ways,' she said of Nnadi.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
A swimming coach in Nigeria provides inspiration and life lessons to disabled people
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — About 20 children in shorts and vests gather at a swimming pool on a sweltering afternoon in Nigeria's economic hub of Lagos. A coach holds the hand of a boy who is blind as he demonstrates swimming motions and guides him through the pool while others take note. It was one of the sessions with students of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, where Emeka Chuks Nnadi, the swimming coach, uses his Swim in 1 Day, or SID, nonprofit to teach swimming to disabled children. In a country where hundreds drown every year, often because of boat mishaps but sometimes as a result of domestic accidents, the initiative has so far taught at least 400 disabled people how to swim. It has also aided their personal development. 'It (has) helped me a lot, especially in class,' said 14-year-old Fikayo Adodo, one of Nnadi's trainees who is blind. 'I am very confident now to speak with a crowd, with people. My brain is sharper, like very great." The World Health Organization considers drowning as one of the leading causes of death through unintentional injury globally, with at least 300,000 people dying from drowning every year. The most at risk are young children. Many of the deaths occur in African countries like Nigeria, with limited resources and training to avert such deaths. In Nigeria — a country of more than 200 million people, 35 million of whom the government says are disabled — the challenge is far worse for disabled people who have less access to limited opportunities and resources in addition to societal stigma. While the initiative is raising awareness among the children about drowning, it benefits wider society in different ways, Nnadi said, especially 'if you want to have disabled people that are contributing to the economy and not just dependent on us as a society to take care of them.' Changing a stereotype Nnadi recalled setting up the nonprofit after moving back to Nigeria from Spain in 2022 and seeing how disabled people are treated compared to others. It was a wide gap, he said, and thought that teaching them how to swim at a young age would be a great way to improve their lives. 'There is a thing in Africa where parents are ashamed of their (disabled) kids,' he said. 'So (I am) trying to make people understand that your child that is blind could actually become a swimming superstar or a lawyer or doctor.' 'I find it rewarding (watching) them transform right under my eyes,' Nnadi said of the results of such lessons. Lives are being transformed a stroke at a time Watching them take their lessons, some struggle to stay calm in the water and stroke their way through it, but Nnadi and the two volunteers working with him patiently guide them through the water, often leaving them excited to quickly try again. Some of them said that it gives them pleasure, while it is a lifesaving skill for some and it's therapy for others. Experts have also said that swimming can improve mental well-being, in addition to the physical benefits from exercising. 'Swimming (has) taught me to face my fears, it has (given) me boldness, it has given me courage, it has made me overcome my fears,' said 13-year-old Ikenna Goodluck, who is blind and among Nnadi's trainees. Ejiro Justina Obinwanne said that the initiative has helped her son Chinedu become more determined in life. 'He is selfless and determined to make something out of the lives of children that the world has written off in a lot of ways,' she said of Nnadi.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Henley Swim folds blaming water quality in River Thames
An open water swimming event firm says it has been forced to close down after the "relentless publicity" over water quality in the River Thames led to a massive drop in numbers entering its Swim has been running events on the River Thames for over 20 years, including the Henley Swim Festival and the Thames Marathon from Henley to company said efforts to join forces with other event organisers to try and save the business had failed leaving "no option" other than to abandon this year's events and close BBC has contacted Thames Water for comment. In a statement announcing its closure, Henley Swim said: "The relentless publicity about the quality of the water in the Thames has put thousands of people off the idea of open water swimming which has led to an unprecedented drop in the number of registrations."We are very grateful for the fantastic support of loyal and enthusiastic swimmers, volunteers and suppliers and we are so sorry that after 20 years Henley Swim has been forced to close down due to circumstances beyond our control."It added: "If appropriate you will hear from the administrator in due course." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
