15% of South West children who take swimming lessons haven't returned for three years
There are fears the aftermath of the pandemic and cost of living crisis are having an impact
Last updated 12th May 2022
Figures show low numbers of children across Cornwall and the South West are learning to swim after COVID-19 and as the cost of living continues to rise.
A third of children across the UK cannot swim and even though numbers in the South West are higher, almost one in four parents in our region have said their children do not have the vital skill.
A report also shows over 15% of the South West are yet to return to swimming lessons since the start of the pandemic.
Sharon Speed, Assistant Manager from Saltash Leisure Centre, said: "COVID played a big part in children not coming swimming and not having access to swimming. On returning to some sort of normality post-COVID money was tight and didn't have spare money to spend on swimming lessons and now with the cost of living that's a factor as well.
"There are a lot of children swimming though, we have nearly 500 a week at our Saltash pool and 16 schools in the academic term but there are barriers that mean people aren't able to access swimming".
The barriers over the past couple of years have seen less young people involved in learn to swim sessions, with over a third of children across the UK missing out on swimming lessons when the pandemic hit.
Over half of parents also say they are having to cut back on doing things for themselves to help pay for their child’s extracurricular activities as the cost of living soars.
Sharon added: "The cost of living crisis is the biggest factor everybody's monthly bills have increased resulting in something has got to go. Parents often think swimming and gym memberships are a luxury, which is not something I agree with".
On top of rising costs, the report has shown fuel costs also rising, nearly a quarter have said they would like to take their child to swimming lessons but the nearest pool with availability is too far away to travel.
Sharon believes swimming in Cornwall continues to be a necessity, adding: "We have 250 miles of coastline, that's beaches, lakes, rivers that people want to swim in and we don't want people to get into any difficulties in the sea or in the water.
"People who learn to swim with us also learn about beach safety, flags and the dangers of the beach and riptides so it's essential really".
This research comes at the start of International Learn to Swim Week which will see the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) launch its Stand Up for Swimming campaign to pledge to provide the funds to train thousands of swimming teachers for free around the UK in 2022.
It comes after one in 10 parents in the UK said they could not find a swimming teacher near them.
Kayley Brightwell from the STA, said: "All those children who normally would have started for example when they started school aged four or five missed out because swimming pools were shut so they had no access to swimming lessons.
"So we've then got this gap in children who've missed out and also they missed out on school swimming lessons so it's this big impact we're seeing following COVID.
"I think it's important the government do support the swimming pool infrastructure. We do need investment in pools and we need to make sure swimming pools are supported".