Swim England and a collaboration of leisure partners, including BH Live, are working to inspire more individuals to discover a fulfilling profession by switching career paths to teach swimming.
With nationwide water safety a concern heading into the summer months, and an expected further influx of people wanting to learn to swim ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics, the leisure and aquatics sector has come together to highlight the essential contribution of swimming teachers in keeping our communities safe, happy, and healthy.
Instructor shortages have affected many Learn to Swim providers’ ability to increase their programmes, meaning more children are missing out on the opportunity to learn to enjoy water safely. Further research from Swim England has shown that 667,000 children across the UK are estimated to miss out on lessons with another 26,000 hours of lessons needing to be delivered every week across the country to match demand.
BH Live, a registered charity and leading operator of leisure centres across Bournemouth and Portsmouth is one such Learn to Swim provider, teaching thousands of children to swim every week. By providing children with the opportunity to learn this essential, life-saving skill, the organisation is helping to make an impact across local communities alongside the South Coast by inspiring more young people to stay active and safe in the water through lessons, low-cost schemes, and regular public swim sessions.
BH Live Swim Academy plays a vital role in inspiring more children to develop their confidence in water. Having instructed for BH Live Active for more than six years, Adrian, an instructor based at BH Live Active, Pelhams, teaches non-swimmers and beginners aged 4+ three days a week.
Adrian shared;
“For me, teaching swimming gives me a huge sense of pride and enjoyment when I see the swimmers achieve that goal or master that skill. I love the variety that can be found as well as the challenges it provides to me and the swimmers. I love the look on their faces and the laughter that comes from them when they are having fun. It’s not only a place where swimmers can learn new skills, strokes, and techniques but also create friendships, experiences, and memories that will stick with them for life.”
The #LoveSwimming campaign will focus on the views and experiences of swimming instructors like Adrian across the UK to display how the profession can lead to a more fulfilled life. Previous Swim England research has indicated that 96% of swimming teachers in the UK are reported to love their job due to their sense of fulfilment in delivering an essential, life-saving skill.
On behalf of Swim England, Rebecca Cox, Business Engagement Director, said:
“This is a hugely important campaign for us and a chance to celebrate the incredible work swimming teachers across the nation do. Being able to swim safely at the beach with your family and friends, or confidently take your children to the local pool is only possible thanks to the amazing support from teachers.
“Our research has shown the need for more swim teachers to ensure everyone has access to lessons, and we can keep everyone safe to enjoy being in the water. We all know that swimming is an essential life skill – but for so many across the nation it is the gateway to creating amazing memories with your family, becoming healthier and happier, and achieving full confidence in the water.
“Our research has also shown this is a really fulfilling career option, with those who teach reporting a higher level of happiness compared to other careers. If you love making a positive difference in your community, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.”
Read more about the #LoveSwimming campaign at www.swimming.org/swimengland
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Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues; a registered charity and social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK
Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Love Swimming
Love Swimming is a national campaign delivered by Swim England in partnership with eight funding partners. This includes BH Live Active, Everyone Active, Freedom Leisure, GLL,
Parkwood Leisure, Places Leisure, Serco and Wiltshire Council.
Love Swimming is the first ever industry-wide campaign that is getting the UK talking about swimming. Working in collaboration with Swim England and eight other partners in the sport
and leisure industry, we are delivering massive reach, engagement and action. This digitally-led campaign highlights a number of real-world stories, from people who have
experienced the many benefits that swimming has to offer. These stories have been filmed and shared widely across social channels and have also hit ‘mainstream’ national and local
media.