One in three kids unable to swim due to cost of living crisis
Parents have been left unable to afford lessons
New research shows one in three children in the UK can't swim.
The Swimming Teachers Association (STA) say the cost of living crisis and a lack of qualified teachers has led to the shocking statistic.
To combat this, the STA are launching the ‘Stand Up for Swimming’ campaign that will pledge to fund the training for thousands of swimming teachers for free around the UK this year.
Dee Harmer is a swimming instructor in Eastbourne.
She said: "It's not one of those things that should be right at the top of that list (to get rid of) compared with other grass root sports.
"But if you can't afford it then you can't afford it and that's what goes first, the activities that are extra.
"You can tell when a child gets out of the water, they feel great, they've been with others, they've been connecting. It's really important to keep that going."