Suffolk Everyday Swim Campaign

Photo of launch, left to right, Kevin Wray, Richard Hunt, Tracy Brownlow, Richard Caborn (Minister for Sport),Duncan Goodhew John Clough, Helen Graupp-Fisher and Lesley Cowie

Contact Everyday Swim Co-ordinator

Helen Graupp - Fisher at helen.graupp-fisher@swimming.org

or visit www.everydayswim.org

EVERYDAY SWIM PROJECT

Everyday Swim is a national programme, led by the Amateur Swimming Association, and funded by Sport England and Suffolk County Council. It is linked in name, branding and aims with Everyday Sport. Everyday Swim looks at the barriers to swimming and provides best practice examples to affect culture change across the country and get more people into our pools, for leisure, fitness and fun. We are delivering the project in partnership with schools, local communities, local authorities, pool providers and primary care trusts.

Swimming is the activity most inactive people say they would like to try. The culture change in swimming provision will remove barriers that stop people taking that first step, as well as providing better service to encourage existing but infrequent swimmers.

In Suffolk, Everyday Swim is targeting three main groups for increased participation:

* People aged 45+

* Young people aged 5-19

* People who live in rural areas and find it difficult to access a public pool

With people aged 45+ we are working with pool operators to support adult learn-to-swim initiatives and encourage pool activities that are appropriate for those who cannot swim or are not strong swimmers, such as aqua-aerobics.

Everyday Swim is working with schools and local communities to support the wider use of school pools for community use. This will enable those in rural areas easier access to a pool, as well as encouraging better use of such facilities.

We are looking at providing a range of pool activities such as mini-polo and rookie training, to engage young people at a time when they typically stop participating in swimming. As well as encouraging increased participation, there is a focus on improving life-skills such as leadership and life saving.

Everyday Swim Suffolk is the only countywide initiative in the country and we are working closely with pool operators in all seven districts across Suffolk in an attempt to rollout initiatives to everyone in the county.

The aim is to run a series of projects that are closely monitored and evaluated. This will enable us to determine what initiatives work, and why, in a sustainable way.

New ideas for Everyday Swim projects are being considered until October 2007. If you have any ideas for projects, any questions, or would like to get involved, please contact Helen Graupp-Fisher, the Everyday Swim Coordinator for Suffolk.

Everyday Swim - Suffolk Update -

December 2006 - February 2007

See article East Anglian Daily Times click HERE