ANALYSIS & COMMENT
The UK’s declining pool stock saddens me, but doesn’t surprise me. We live on an island, yet children still leave primary school not knowing how to swim; schools are not held to account. There are big issues around affordability and accessibility, including for disabled people. Too many pool operators lack the commercial skills needed to run an effective pool programme: it is not about profit but instead knowing how to manage costs and maximise income. Councils don’t have a clear strategy. And there is no one single leading voice in the industry. Swimming needs attention and it needs funding – it isn’t rocket science – but there’s nobody leading this, and in spite of much talk over the years, nothing has changed. It’s time to admit that what has previously been done, hasn’t worked. The current situation reflects a lack of investment and a lack of joined-up action. The industry now needs to do things differently.
Helen Bull RLSS UK & Swim England Qualifications Board Member
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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