VIEWS the POOLSIDE

SportsNation asked some of the aquatics sector leaders for their views on the state of swimming – and the challenges and opportunities faced by the sport

Dave Candler

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Dave Candler

CEO Swimming Teachers’ Association

How would you describe the current state of swimming across the UK at the moment? Swimming continues to be one of the UK’s most loved and valuable physical activities. In fact, 99% of parents we recently surveyed during International Learn to Swim Week agreed that swimming is a vital life skill, underlining its importance to families and communities.

However, the sector is facing significant challenges, particularly around accessibility. Since 2010, the UK has seen the loss of around 500 swimming pools, with nearly half of those closures occurring since 2020. Recent analysis from Swim ENgland and ukactive, who we support as their Strategic Partner for Swimming, shows that 76% of all publicly accessible water space lost over the past 15 years has disappeared in just the last few years.

Despite these pressures, there is a strong foundation of public support and enthusiasm for swimming, creating a real opportunity for positive change. By taking collective action now - to protect facilities, improve affordability, and support the workforce - we can ensure that swimming remains accessible for future generations.

What about the well-publicised shortage of swimming teachers and instructors - where are we with that? There has been encouraging progress, though challenges do remain. For example, our STAnd Up for Swimming campaign in 2022 trained 900 new swimming teachers for free to help tackle post-pandemic shortages - an initiative that continues to have a positive impact today.

Despite this, demand for lessons still exceeds supply, and recruitment and retention remain key priorities, particularly as pool closures contribute to longer waiting lists. As a partner with CIMSPA, we’re encouraging all employers to sign the recently launched Sector Pledge and support the Sport & Physical Activity Employability Academy. By tailoring training to industry needs, this initiative aims to bring more young people into aquatic roles and create clear, rewarding career pathways. Technology also offers valuable support. Our partnership with CoverMe - an innovative app that helps operators manage teacher recruitment and lesson cover more efficiently - is already making a difference. By reducing admin burdens, improving compliance, and keeping lessons running smoothly, it ensures families experience fewer disruptions.

There is certainly light at the end of the tunnel - but only if we continue to invest in the workforce, embrace innovative solutions, and support employers in building sustainable, attractive careers in aquatics.

What do you see as the biggest threats/ challenges to the aquatics sector?

As an educational charity dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities learn this vital life skill, our biggest challenge is accessibility.

Our parent survey echoed what we’ve heard for years: parents overwhelmingly want their children to learn to swim, but too many face barriers. Cost, a lack of available lessons, and pool closures remain the main issues. Many families simply can’t find lessons nearby or struggle to afford them - a situation worsened by the decline in local facilities.

If we don’t tackle these challenges, we risk leaving behind the very children and communities who would benefit most. Learning to swim isn’t just another activity - it’s a life-saving skill that builds confidence, safety, and lifelong enjoyment.

SWIMMING ISN’T JUST ANOTHER ACTIVITY – IT’S A LIFE-SAVING SKILL

And what about the sector’s biggest opportunities and strengths?

One of the sector’s greatest strengths is the shared passion and commitment to making swimming accessible and welcoming for everyone. From community swimming groups to private providers and large leisure operators, there is a collective drive to help people of all ages learn this vital life skill.

Another key strength is the strong public recognition of swimming as an essential life skill rather than just a sport. Parents consistently tell us they value swimming for the safety, confidence, and lifelong enjoyment it brings their children - not just for competitive outcomes.

What are the main programmes or initiatives that STA is currently working on to help more people swim more often? Over the last 12–18 months, we’ve launched a range of initiatives to make swimming more accessible and inclusive. In 2024, we launched two major community- focused campaigns fully funded by STA: Community STArters and Community Heart STArters. Community STArters awarded £1,000 grants to local charities and organisations delivering swimming and water safety programmes, including disability swim clubs, open water mental health sessions, and subsidised lessons for families facing financial hardship or homelessness.

This led to the launch of Community Heart STArters earlier this year, which provides free defibrillators to not-for-profit aquatic and sports groups, improving safety and ensuring devices are registered with The Circuit, the national defibrillator network.

Through STARLIGHT, launched in 2023, we upskilled 500 teachers in disability swimming. Impressively, 86% of these teachers now adapt all their lessons to be more inclusive, creating lasting, accessible opportunities.

Policy

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE WATER AND BE SAFE

Jo Talbot

Commercial Director RLSS UK

What do you see as the biggest threats to/challenges for the aquatics sector? Facility decline. Since 2019, the total number of sites operating swimming pools in the UK has fallen by 8.7%, equating to the loss of 274 venues. We know that when swimming pools close, not only does it reduce the chance of children from the local community being able to learn to swim, but it also removes the opportunity to enjoy water safely and can increase the chances of people swimming in inland water that can lead to more drownings. Workforce is also a challenge, with the shortage of lifeguards increasing pressure on existing staff and affecting overall operations.

What are the main barriers for people being able to access welcoming and safe facilities? Cost & Time: Lessons can be seen as expensive; and parents may have to prioritise other uses of their time and money.

Confidence & Culture: Some can avoid swimming due to negative experiences, fear, or lack of cultural emphasis. Statistics show that 95 per cent of black adults and 80 per cent of black children in England do not swim Physical Access: People living further than 10 miles from pools might find participating harder. Inclusion Gaps: Children from low-income or ethnically diverse backgrounds are significantly less likely to leave school able to swim. Children from the most deprived areas are almost twice as likely to drown as those from the least deprived areas. Children of black ethnicity are three times as likely to drown as those of white ethnicity.

What are the sector’s biggest opportunities and strengths? Strong working collaborations through initiatives like the Swimming Alliance, to drive forward concepts, strategies and lobbying; working as one voice.

Embracing technology in all areas of swimming, from supervision to pool plant and swimming lessons will enhance safety, support the workforce, provide efficiencies and improve service.

What water safety initiatives is RLSS UK currently working on? We have a new Strategic Framework for 2025–2030, which is focused on Engagement, Education, and expertise to eliminate drowning and enable safe enjoyment of water. Our Water Smart Schools programme is designed to help all children by embedding water safety in schools, especially benefiting SEND and low-income pupils.

If you’d be able to introduce a piece of legislation around swimming, what would that be? One high-impact legislative change would be mandating water safety and swimming skills education across the school curriculum, with ringfenced funding and reporting requirements. This could involve expanding the statutory duty beyond leaving primary school – to ensure secondary schools provide ongoing water safety sessions – while providing funding for swimming pools that provide communities with safe places to enjoy water.

In addition, there should be a mandate to report on attainment by demographic (like Income, SEND, ethnicity) to identify and address inequities. This would ensure early and continued access, equitable resourcing, and accountability across regions and demographics, tackling the postcode lottery while embedding long-term water confidence and safety.

How would you describe the current state of swimming across the UK at the moment? While UK aquatics faces significant threats, the sector also benefits from strong collaboration, effective training systems, innovative tech and targeted outreach. RLSS UK’s initiatives are strategically aligned to prevent drowning, professionalise staff, and broaden access. A legal shift mandating and funding swimming and water safety education and infrastructure equitably across all schools could dramatically accelerate progress.

With fewer swimming pools in operation, RLSS UK’s work is more important than ever. Our purpose is rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the water and be safe in aquatic environments.