National children’s swimming provider Total Swimming Academies has launched a joint venture with leading venue lettings company Vivify to unlock the true potential of school swimming pools nationwide, after it was revealed that more than one million children will leave primary school by 2025 unable to swim a length.
The announcement follows the launch of the School Pool Legacy Fund, through which it appealed for 600 school pools to remain open post-pandemic, and pledged a lifeline £1m fund in support. Total Swimming Academies, the brainchild of Olympic medallist and BBC broadcaster Steve Parry, is part of the Sporting House group of businesses and is aimed at helping children reach their life potential through sport.
Vivify provides a complete end-to- end hire solution, removing the hassle of community lettings. Its bespoke digital platform lists under-utilised school facilities for hire maximising activity levels and generating much- needed additional revenue for the school. It is also responsible for sales, marketing, all hirer payments and even staffing.
By joining forces, the two businesses will provide schools with a fully managed venue solution for their pools as well as wider facilities, allowing schools to increase the opportunities available to their children and young people as well as generating essential additional income and playing a pivotal role in their local communities.
Steve Parry, a decorated swimmer who won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has dedicated the last 17 years to ensuring children from all backgrounds are given the opportunity to learn to swim.
He said: “During Lockdown, the importance of exercise has been pushed to the forefront – not just for its physical benefits, but its psychological ones too. I’m a firm believer that the more active you are, the more mentally alert you will become, and we know the impact that sport has on helping children to achieve their life goals, both in and out of the classroom.
“Figures suggest that as many as one in five pools will never fully reopen again as a result of the pandemic, due to spiralling maintenance costs and we are delighted that our partnership with Vivify can provide a solution to this and ensure valuable facilities can be fully utilised.”
