Swim England Call on Government for Financial Support

Swim England is calling on the Government to help prevent hundreds of swimming pools being mothballed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The recognised national governing body fears potentially up to 10 per cent of England’s 5,000 swimming pools will stay shut even after restrictions are eased by Government.

Discussions between Swim England and pool operators and owners has revealed how financial worries and the cost of bringing the pool out of lockdown may result in facilities remaining closed indefinitely.

Swim England is now asking the Government to ensure that financial support is available to help pools and ensure that communities do not lose a facility which generates significant social value.

Guidance and support to help pools reopen is also being developed by Swim England.

It has released The Importance of Pools Post-lockdown document which details how a 25m pool can generate £7.2 million social value in community savings and save the NHS and social care system more than £1.2 million.

Swim England’s Value of Swimming report, published last November, also revealed that aquatic activity helps to save the health and social care system more than £357 million pounds per year.

Before the lockdown, around 14 million adults in England went swimming each year, with more than one million children learning to swim outside of school through Swim England’s Learn to Swim programmes.

Click here to read more on Swim England's website.