It's never too late to learn to swim!

With children and adults across the country having very limited access to swimming pools over the last 14 months, this year’s International Learn to Swim Week takes on a whole new level of significance this year.

Add to that a recent report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Swimming and Swim England, stating that over one million children could leave primary school in the next five years unable to swim the minimum standards required under the national curriculum – and, we begin to see an even clearer level of urgency. Swimming and water safety is a vital life skill that every child – and adult - should have.

There’s no denying the numerous health and wellbeing benefits of swimming. And, it is no exaggeration to say that learning how to swim, and the wider importance of water safety, are skills that could one day save a life.

Beyond the importance of water safety though, whether you’re an adult, a child, or simply young at heart – learning to swim isn’t just a life skill, it’s a rite of passage to a new lease on life.

Learning to swim brings freedom, fun and endless opportunities to create lifelong memories in and around water - from summers at your local lido with friends, to family holidays at the beach, scuba-diving, canoeing, white water river rafting, paddle boarding, wind surfing and so much more!

While there are many benefits of learning to swim, we know that learning from passionate and experienced instructors can make a world of difference. With the right instructor and individualized attention, swimming isn’t scary, it’s empowering.

At Places Leisure, our swimming lessons are taught by fully qualified swim instructors who are passionate about teaching water safety and focus on the fundamentals of swimming in a positive, encouraging way – whether your nine, or 90, we can help you or your child every step of the way. We promote quality not quantity and we recognise that everyone is an individual and may progress at different speeds, but when they do, progress is always acknowledged.

For those that are a little concerned about the transmission of Covid-19 in the water, please click here to learn about a recent study we supported that concluded, swimming pool water can inactivate the Covid-19 virus in 30 seconds.

So, in the spirit of International Learn to Swim Week, why don’t you sign up yourself or your child for swimming lessons today?