This year’s PWTAG conference offers a unique opportunity to consider how our swimming pools might move on in the 21st century. The importance of pools to the health of the population is undeniable – yet financial pressures can and do lead to closures and a loss of this important national asset. What remedies can we […]
Swim England
New Swim England chief executive Andy Salmon has encouraged the entire aquatics community to get behind the national governing body’s ‘commitment to change’. Andy gave his thoughts on the recently-published independent listening research and issued a sincere apology to anyone who had endured poor experiences or inappropriate behaviour. He spoke frankly about the responsibility and […]
A whopping 325 swimming pools and leisure centres in England have received grants to help boost their energy efficiency and keep running costs down. The money has come from the £60.5 million Phase II of the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). The grants, which range in size from £3,000 to nearly £1m, will help to […]
Parkwood Leisure takes a customer-centric approach to swimming, as Judith Wojtowicz reports… Investment and innovation go hand in hand at Parkwood Leisure, the first leisure operator within the industry to commission a detailed social value report to better understand the impact of its activities on the communities it serves. The impressive results from this 2020 […]
Swim England has clarified its position on pop-up pools following a rise in the popularity of their use. Temporary pools are being used at dozens of sites across the country to help deliver school swimming lessons and water safety sessions. That has prompted the national governing body to highlight key health and safety aspects which […]
The healthcare benefits of swimming and aquatic activity for people with long-term health conditions is the focus of an eLearning resource launched by NHS England, in partnership with Swim England. Research conducted by Swim England has highlighted how healthcare professionals intuitively believe aquatic activity provides unique health benefits, but they lack specific knowledge to make […]
Judith Wojtowicz takes a closer look at Serco Leisure, four-times winner of Water Leisure Operator of the year… Despite phenomenal growth in the last two years, the ‘exciting stuff is yet to come’, according to Helen Bull, national commercial aquatics manager of reigning Swimming Pool Operators Of the Year, Serco Leisure. With swim lessons up […]
Swim England recently joined forces with the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) to tackle the urgent issue of more than 660,000 children could be missing out on swimming lessons. The national governing body says there are 12,000 vacant roles across the aquatics sector, with more than 3,700 amongst national and regional operators. Based on the shortage, […]
Swim England has vowed ‘to create a better future’ for everyone in its sports as part of a cultural change journey which will put members, coaches, teachers, parents, clubs and swim schools at the heart of aquatics. Included in the national governing body’s new safeguarding, welfare and culture plan, Heart of Aquatics, is a commitment […]
Swim England has welcomed a £63 million Government investment to help keep ‘vulnerable’ swimming pools afloat and become more energy efficient as they battle with increased costs. A total of £40 million will help pools cut carbon emissions for the long-term, with more than £20 million available to tackle rising utility bills. Swim England and […]