Latest news with #SwimWales
South Wales Argus
05-08-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Delyth Jewell MS on importance of swimming and concerns
Swim Wales, the governing body for swimming, told the Senedd committee I chair that there was a danger that swimming could become a middle-class activity, because of the cost of lessons. Figures released in 2024 show that only 35 per cent of children in years 3-6 are able to swim. This isn't just a question of exercise – it's a safety issue. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in Wales (worryingly, the rates of accidental drowning in Wales more than doubles the UK average). Clearly, it is imperative that we teach children how to swim, and from a young age. That is why Plaid Cymru has pledged this week to provide every primary school child in Wales with free swimming lessons. Plaid Cymru's universal swim scheme will consist of providing 20 swimming and water safety lessons for all primary pupils during Years 4 and 5 of school. The policy announced this week will not only save lives, but is part of Plaid Cymru's commitment to a new and transformative preventative health agenda. It is a policy that will, I hope, lead to more children leading active and healthier lives. I'm proud that we've made this pledge – and I'm not the only one. Fergus Feeney, the chief executive officer of Swim Wales, has also welcomed the pledge, saying that 'by having a universal school swimming offer, we can ensure that Welsh children from all backgrounds have the same opportunity to acquire a life skill, to develop their confidence and begin their journey of lifelong physical activity. This would mean that Wales would be the first home nation to have a national programme of this significance in place.' Delyth Jewell is Senedd Member for South Wales East.
Leader Live
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham-born Olympian Hector is now a record-breaker!
The Wrexham-born swimmer has set a new world record by becoming the first person in history to swim Britain's three biggest lakes – Loch Lomond (Scotland), Windermere (England) and Bala's Llyn Tegid (Wales) – back-to-back in a travel inclusive time between lakes of under 24 hours. The two-time British Olympian completed the three swims, totalling over 34-and-a-half miles, in a combined swim time of 12 hours and 15 minutes. In the process, he smashed the previous record for Loch Lomond by an incredible one-and-a-half hours. Swimming through the night, starting at one minute past midnight on Saturday morning in water temperatures as low as 14 degrees, he completed the gruelling 21.6 miles in a new record time of seven hours, 46 minutes and 15 seconds. From Loch Lomond, Pardoe and his support team travelled the 167 miles to Lake Windermere - where he set the current record back in 2023 - in a fleet of electric Jeeps. He was cheered on at the finish by hundreds of supporters lining the lakeside beaches and pontoon to complete the 10.5-mile length in three hours and 38 minutes. After another 152 miles of driving, the next stop was Bala and it was getting dark by the time he entered the water. Cheered on again by large groups of supporters, he mustered up every ounce of energy to complete the astonishing 34.5 miles of swimming - representing almost twice the length of the English Channel, and over 2,220 lengths of a typical 25m public swimming pool. At the end he was greeted by Fergus Feeney, CEO of Swim Wales and crowned 'King of the Lakes'. In the process, Pardoe has so far raised over £6,000 for Surfers Against Sewage and highlighted the need to clean up our waterways. Support and donations keep flooding in to his Just Giving page. He said: 'I knew that this wasn't just about pushing my own limits; it was also about using the platform I've built through sport to fight for the environment that made me. 'Across the UK, our rivers and lakes are being polluted by sewage and agricultural runoff, making them unsafe – not just for athletes like me, but for anyone who wants to enjoy them. I knew that I had to push through my pain, cold and hunger to further highlight this issue. For me it's all about national pride. 'Hopefully I have now thrown down the gauntlet for others to follow. Complete this challenge if you dare.' Sponsorship came from Jeep, Cameron House Hotel and Bala Lake Hotel.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Free school swimming lessons election pledge by Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru has promised to make sure that all primary school children in Wales are given free swimming lessons if it wins next year's Senedd policy would provide 20 "swimming and water safety" lessons for children in years four and said the pledge would cost £4.4m a national governing body for Welsh swimming, Swim Wales, said that "fewer than 35%" of Welsh children aged seven to 11 are able to swim 25 metres unaided. According to Swim Wales, parents should already "expect their child to attend school swimming at some point during primary school".However, the "exact opportunities" can vary depending on the local council and each individual school, the organisation evidence to a Senedd committee in 2023, the chief executive of Swim Wales, Fergus Feeney, said that only 50% of the country's 1,600 plus primary schools took part in swimming, as he warned the activity risks being limited to "white middle class children".Plaid says that a lack of funding limits what primary schools are able to offer and so the party would set money aside specifically for school swimming Cymru's culture, media and leisure spokeswoman Heledd Fychan said the party's "fully-costed" policy would "teach every single child the skills they need to enjoy spending time in and by the water safely"."By giving children the opportunity to learn to swim, we will also actively encourage children to be healthier – which is all a part of our commitment to a new and transformative agenda for public health in Wales," she added. According to the National Water Safety Forum, there were 18 water-related deaths in Wales in 2024 and the rate of accidental drowning in Wales is almost double that of the UK as a whole."Teaching our young people how to swim and be safe in and around water is a necessity, not a nice-to-have," Fychan Feeney said he "welcomed" the policy."Without urgent action, tens of thousands of Welsh children every year could leave primary school unable to stay safe in, on, or around water," he said."By having a universal school swimming offer, we can ensure that Welsh children from all backgrounds have the same opportunity to acquire a life skill, to develop their confidence and begin their journey of lifelong physical activity."This would mean that Wales would be the first home nation to have a national programme of this significance in place."Earlier this year, the Senedd's culture committee called on the government to "develop a school swimming strategy to ensure that children leaving primary school have the ability to swim".Responding at the time, the minister for culture Jack Sargeant said he agreed with "the intention of the recommendation", but added "we need to be mindful of the financial pressure the recommendation would imply for schools in the current difficult financial circumstances"."The statutory guidance within the Curriculum for Wales, which all schools must consider, includes learners engaging in a range of physical activity, including within water," he added.
North Wales Chronicle
24-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Consistent drop in Anglesey children learning to swim
Councillors on Anglesey are 'looking into' why less youngsters are learning the vital skill. During a meeting, councillors heard there had been a drop in the number of kids taking part in the Nofio Môn Swimming programme. During a discussion on the council's 'corporate score card' results for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, councillors heard the number of children attending swimming classes was 1,682. This was slightly down on the third quarter level of 1,695. In Quarter One it had been 1,847, and 1,806 in the second quarter. The average for 2024/25 fell to 1,747, below the Quarter Four target of 1,900. This had not included children taking swimming lessons through primary schools, where 3,845 children had attended sessions during a 30-week block. MORE NEWS: Bangor man returns to prison after assaulting a policeman 'with force' Top honours for Coleg Menai's most 'outstanding' students Pedestrian in hospital with 'serious' injuries after being hit by vehicle in Gwynedd Conwy Tunnel fire: A55 vulnerabilities to accidents and delays exposed by blaze The meeting heard demand for places on the council's scheme was declining, and there was now only one centre on the island with a waiting list. The council's portfolio holder for leisure Cllr Neville Evans said: 'We just don't know why it's happening, we're looking into it. 'There's been a consistent decline, but it's happening in other council areas too.' Enhanced coaching and training for staff had been undertaken at the end of March, through Swim Wales, and it was hoped this would 'further improve' the quality of lessons provided. 'It could be due to a number of reasons, the cost of living, or even more leisure activities available now,' he added. MORE: Historic coaching inn used as council offices in Caernarfon could become flats He also queried if the target was 'too high'. It was agreed that the service would work with leisure centres to promote the swimming programme. Cllr Jeff Evans, the committee's chair, said due to the 'astonishing number of deaths going on around the country' he felt it was necessary for the committee to 'get on top of the issue'. 'We must maximise the opportunities for learning to swim, living here on the island we are surrounded by water,' he said.
Wales Online
20-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Consistent' drop in children learning to swim on 'island surrounded by water'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A county "surrounded by water" has seen a "consistent drop" in the number of children learning how to swim. Councillors on Anglesey are "looking into" why less youngsters are learning the vital skill. During a meeting on Tuesday, June 17, councillors heard there had been a drop in the number of kids taking part in the Nofio Môn Swimming programme. During a discussion on the council's "corporate score card" results for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, councillors heard the number of children attending swimming classes was 1,682. This was slightly down on the third quarter level of 1,695. In Quarter One it had been 1,847, and 1,806 in the second quarter. The average for 2024/25 fell to 1,747, below the Quarter Four target of 1,900. This had not included children taking swimming lessons through primary schools, where 3,845 children had attended sessions during a 30-week block. The meeting heard demand for places on the council's scheme was declining, and there was now only one centre on the island with a waiting list. The council's portfolio holder for leisure Cllr Neville Evans said: "We just don't know why it's happening, we're looking into it. "There's been a consistent decline, but it's happening in other council areas too." Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday Enhanced coaching and training for staff had been undertaken at the end of March, through Swim Wales, and it was hoped this would "further improve" the quality of lessons provided. "It could be due to a number of reasons, the cost of living, or even more leisure activities available now," he added. He also queried if the target was "too high". It was agreed that the service would work with leisure centres to promote the swimming programme. Cllr Jeff Evans, the committee's chair, said due to the "astonishing number of deaths going on around the country" he felt it was necessary for the committee to "get on top of the issue". "We must maximise the opportunities for learning to swim, living here on the island we are surrounded by water," he said. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
