100/09
24 July 2009
New figures released today show that young people and senior
citizens have taken the plunge more than 4.4 million times thanks
to the Government’s £140m free swimming initiative – a key part of
plans to ensure a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games by getting more people physically active.
More than a thousand local authority pools in England have been
offering free swimming to 20 million people aged 16 and under, or
60 and over, since April – with more than 250 councils backing the scheme.
Today’s figures for the first three months of the scheme have
been welcomed by the five Government departments funding the
initiative, by swimming’s governing body and by the broadcaster
Sir Terry Wogan, who has joined actor and comedian David Walliams
in championing free swimming.
Young people took advantage of 2.8 million free swims in the
scheme’s first three months, with 1.6 million visits to pools by
senior citizens aged 60 and over.
Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
applauded the figures as proof of the scheme’s success:
“We never had any doubt that free swimming was going to make a
splash – but it has shown itself to be an even bigger success with
people, young and old, than we had ever expected. This is a big
idea that has fast become a big hit at pools all over the country.
“It shows how the Government is using London 2012 to give sport a
real lift and working in partnership with local councils of all
political persuasions to get more people more active.
“This is proof of our commitment to securing long-term benefits
from the Olympics and Paralympics – along with record investment
in school sport and half a billion pounds now going to sports’
governing bodies to deliver schemes to increase participation.”
In total 259 councils are offering free swimming for people aged
60 and over, and 190 for young people aged 16 and under. Before
the beginning of the free swimming initiative the number of local
authorities offering any form of year-round free swimming was
barely in double figures.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:
"I'm thrilled the free swimming initiative is
so popular with both young and older people. Getting moving in the
water makes your whole body work that little bit harder than on
dry land - so activity in the pool is a great way to get your
active minutes."
Delyth Morgan, Children’s Minister at the Department for
Children, Schools and Families, said:
“It’s fantastic
that our free swimming scheme has been so popular, with 2.8
million free visits by children to pools already, giving them the
opportunity to hone their swimming skills, get fit and have fun
without having to worry about the cost. I hope that many more
children take advantage of the scheme, especially over the summer
holidays, as this is a great way to build on the two hours of PE
they receive at school.
“We want to encourage all children to
take part in sport and physical activity outside school hours,
whether they have a particular talent or just want to learn a new
hobby. Hopefully the scheme will identify and nurture the Olympic
and Paralympic winners of the future.”
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:
“Swimming is a great way to keep fit and healthy in later life,
and that's why DWP is backing this initiative with £22m
so millions more can take the plunge."
Communities Secretary John Denham said:
"I am delighted that so many people are using the
free swimming that so many councils are able to offer thanks to
our funding.
"People are clear they want their councils to
provide good recreational facilities and swimming is a popular
pastime and great way to get fitter. I want to congratulate those
councils that have taken the plunge and urge even more local
residents to dive in and make the most of the offer of free swimming."
Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics, said:
"Today's figures are proof of the action we
are taking to reach our target of persuading two million people to
get more active by 2012; delivering a legacy of building a
healthier, more active nation thanks to the London Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
"Swimming is a great way to keep fit and with stars like
Rebecca Adlington and Ellie Simmonds making waves in international
competition and three years to go until London 2012 it's
a great time for people to dig out their swim kit and head to
their local pool."
The broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan, a keen swimmer, is championing
the initiative:
"Free swimming is a great idea that deserves to succeed,
and can only do good. I am delighted to endorse it and am very
pleased to hear that so many people have dived in and enjoyed the
benefits,” he said.
The ASA, swimming’s governing body, is working with the
Government and local councils to make the scheme an even bigger
success.
Its Chief Executive, David Sparkes, said: “These figures show the
power of swimming. They are outstanding results and demonstrate
that the free swimming initiative can make a difference in making
our nation more active and healthier. All the research pointed to
a massive latent demand for swimming and this initiative seems to
have put a light to the blue touch paper.
“We now need to keep this going by getting more people involved
in swimming, having more fun together. I am delighted with the way
the industry has reacted to this and we continue to work with them
to make this the most successful initiative ever in getting people
more active.”
Data about take-up for the scheme will be released every three
months and its success in driving up participation in sport will
be measured by separate research, including Sport England’s Active
People survey later this year.
Richard Lewis, Sport England’s Chair, said:
“Young and older people have seized the opportunity to swim for
free, just as local authorities are making the most of the
opportunity to enhance their facilities. Combined with the offer
of free swimming lessons and a national network of county swimming
co-ordinators, free swimming has a major role to play in getting
more people enjoying this great sport on a regular basis.”
Key details of the scheme:
Up to £40m was allocated for each of the financial years 2009-10
and 2010-11 for local councils to help meet the cost of providing
free access to pools during standard swimming sessions; Councils
that are providing free swimming for both age groups were
allocated £10 million to improve their local facilities in
2008/09; A £50 million capital fund has been made available to
councils to modernise existing facilities or help build new ones
in 2009/10 and 2010/11;A national network of swimming experts has
been recruited to work with participating councils to promote
interest in swimming and increase participation; One hundred
thousand free swimming lessons are being offered to
non-swimmers;Extra funding within the overall funding package is
being promised to participating councils, including as a reward to
those with the best record in developing the scheme and making an
impact in their communities;Local councils will be eligible to
seek London 2012’s ‘Inspire’ mark, as recognition of the impact of
their schemes in producing a lasting legacy from hosting the
Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012;The initiative is guaranteed
to run for at least two years – the period covered by the
Government’s current spending review.
Notes to Editors
1. Further information on the free swimming initiative, including
councils participating and their figures for the first quarter
from April to June 2009, are available on the DCMS website at www.culture.gov.uk/freeswimming.
2. Data is available nationally, by region and by local authority
– broken down by month and by age group. A small number of local
authorities have ‘nil returns’ of 0 free swims for young people.
This is due to councils either having joined, or left, the scheme
after 1 April 2009, or not having submitted take-up figures by the
deadline.
3. More than 20 million have been able to benefit from the scheme
at over 1,000 local authority pools and those run by county
councils (education authorities) in state schools with community
access. Local authorities cannot restrict free swimming to their
own residents. Those eligible but covered by a council not
participating in the scheme can swim for free at a pool run by a
council that is taking part.
4. The number of participating councils is lower than that cited
before 1 April 2009, due to local government re-organisation which
merged some local authorities, including in the South-West,
North-West and North-East of England.
5. The data is for free swims – reflecting the total number of
visits to pools, without charge, by young people and those over 60
during this period – rather than the total number of individual
swimmers taking advantage of the scheme.
6. The initiative is jointly funded by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health, Department for
Work and Pensions, the Department for Children, Schools and
Families and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
7. It is being delivered in conjunction with local authorities,
the Local Government Association, the ASA and Sport England.
Further information on the Free Swimming Capital Modernisation
Programme, administered by Sport England, is available at www.sportengland.org
Contacts:
DCMS Press Enquiries and Out of hours telephone pager
Phone:
020 7211 6263
Mobile: 07699 751153
NDS.DCMS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
John Evans.
Phone: 020 7211 6931
john.evans@culture.gsi.gov.uk