Amateur Swimming Association calls for continued government commitment to sport

ASA | Swim England

2 min read13 May 2015 Partner content

The new Government must continue to work with experts to raise awareness of the benefits of swimming and aquatic sports, according to the Amateur Swimming Association.

As the new administration takes office, ASA Chief Executive Adam Pakerhas said he is looking forward to working with parliamentarians to promote the sport.

He said: “We look forward to continuing to work with Ministers to ensure swimming remains accessible to all and that the many health and social benefits of swimming regularly are widely known.

“Swimming holds a unique place in the health and wellbeing of the nation and the Government’s manifesto commitment to continued investment in sport participation and physical activity as a primary care objective is welcomed.

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"We also welcome the commitment to continued primary school sport funding and ensuring a minimum of two hours a week of sport and PE. School Swimming is a great opportunity for children to learn how to be safe in and around water, and have fun while staying healthy.

“These manifesto commitments will help to give teachers greater flexibility to provide high quality swimming lessons and help reduce the number of children leaving primary school unable to swim a minimum of 25 metres.

“However, we also need to ensure these lessons are regularly inspected and look forward to working with Ministers to ensure children are being taught this vital life skill in a way that will encourage them to continue their swimming journey so they can reap the many health and social benefits that swimming has to offer.”

Lara Lill, ASA Head of Health and Wellbeing added: “Sport has a vital role to play in maintaining or improving the quality of a person’s life, regardless of their age, ability or background. Swimming in particular can help with mental wellbeing or with physical conditions or illnesses.

“Over the last year we have been working closely with the Department of Health to deliver our Active Workplace programme and develop our Dementia Friendly Swimming Project. We look forward to continuing with this work over the course of the next government.”

To read the ASA’s Manifesto for Aquatics 2015 visit: tiny.cc/ASAManifesto2015

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