Free swimming breaks 10 million mark

New figures show that youngsters and older people have taken to the water 10.37 million times in the first six months of the Government’s £140 million free swimming initiative.

The scheme is a key part of plans to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since April, hundreds of local authority pools in England have been offering free swimming to people aged 16 and under, or 60 and over.

Figures published today show that young people took advantage of 6.86 million free swims between April and September, with 3.51 million visits to pools by older people.

Sport England is supporting the ASA work to make the scheme an even bigger success, through a new network of county swimming co-ordinators and the offer of free swimming lessons to 100,000 non-swimmers.

As part of the initiative, Sport England is also administering a £50 million capital fund in 2009/10 and 2010/11, enabling local authorities to modernise existing pools and help build new facilities.

“With well over 10 million free swims in six months, it’s clear both young and older people are seizing the chance to get to the pool," said Richard Lewis, Sport England's Chair. "Thanks to the offer of free swimming lessons, many non-swimmers are also finding out about the fun and fulfilment of this sport.”

You can find more detailed figures on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.