INDUSTRY VIEWS
LEISURE DB
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF POOLS EMPOWERING LIVES, ENSURING INCLUSIVITY, PRIORITISING SAFETY Our charity’s purpose is rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy water and be safe in aquatic environments. The importance of swimming pools in achieving this – inclusively promoting confidence and competence in the water, and in turn saving lives – cannot be overstated. Indeed, sitting at the heart of local communities, swimming pools have a transformative power. These are not only spaces for physical activity and recreation, promoting physical fitness. They are places where children and adults learn to swim, building confidence and competence in the water. They are venues for lifesaving and lifeguard training, equipping people with essential skills for themselves and others. They are instrumental in saving countless lives. By teaching water safety and swimming techniques, swimming pools play a vital role in preventing drowning incidents, especially among children and vulnerable individuals. RLSS UK is therefore dedicated to advocating for policies and regulations that prioritise water safety, actively engaging with government bodies, policymakers and stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of drowning prevention measures; in 2022, this led to the Education Bill on water safety. Swimming pools also play a key role in creating employment opportunities, with over 50,000 lifeguards working in the sector. Neither does it stop there, as many of these individuals then harness their skills to springboard into new careers such as the police, paramedics and fire service. You only have to look at our #IStartedAsALifeguard campaign to see the benefits. Yet while swimming pools offer a gateway to a healthier and safer society, the industry faces significant challenges in ensuring inclusivity. Collaboration with local communities, schools and organisations plays a pivotal role in addressing these disparities, and RLSS UK has been actively engaging with underrepresented groups: initiatives such as our scholarship fund for migrants and people from low-income backgrounds enable these individuals to access our quality education programmes. We believe it is our collective responsibility as an industry to create a more inclusive swimming culture, ensuring swimming facilities are accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstances. Everyone must have the opportunity to learn how to enjoy water safely. And so we will continue to work closely with the industry to understand the demands and challenges, and to provide support and guidance. To set industry standards, provide consultancy, conduct audits and offer ongoing support to help swimming pools across the nation adhere to the highest safety measures, foster inclusivity, create a culture where everyone can enjoy the water and its many benefits, and provide peace of mind to swimmers and their families.
It is our collective responsibility as an industry to create a more inclusive swimming culture to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy water safely.
JO TALBOT Director, RLSS UK
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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