CABORN LAUNCHES ASA EVERYDAY SWIM
Minister for Sport Richard Caborn launched the Amateur Swimming
Association's £3m Everyday Swim initiative at a special
event in Sheffield today.
Everyday Swim ambassador Duncan Goodhew, ASA Chief Executive
David Sparkes and Sport England Interim Director of Regions
David Gent were all on hand to lend support and address an
audience that included representatives from all eight pilot
regions.
Supported by Sport England, Everyday Swim is a pioneering
initiative to break down the barriers to swimming and aquatic
activity, change swimming pool culture, increase participation
and help towards building a healthier nation.
The three-year programme includes pilots ranging from tackling
obesity and the risk of obesity in young people to engaging
black and ethnic minority communities and increasing access
to water space by working in partnership with pool providers.
Richard Caborn underlined the important role swimming can
play in building a healthier nation.
"The Government believes physical activity is very important
and the lessons from Everyday Swim will provide vital evidence
to be factored into future decisions on how we invest,"
he said. "Activities such as swimming have a positive
effect on social inclusion, health and education and Everyday
Swim is part of a larger strategy to encourage the public
to get active."
Everyday Swim ambassador Duncan Goodhew praised swimming
for its all-round benefits and underlined the role Everyday
Swim will play in providing real evidence in support of aquatic
activity.
"People are naturally attracted to swimming," he
said. "As well as the many benefits it offers, it provides
an all-round exercise for life.
"Everyday Swim is a major step towards understanding
the barriers to swimming and finding the best way to articulate
our sport. Armed with facts, we will be able to encourage
the Government, Local Authorities and leisure providers to
invest in swimming and make a real difference to local communities
and the country's health."
Sport England's David Gent believes Everyday Swim will be
a driving force behind increasing levels of activity across
the country.
"Sport England's target is to increase participation
1% year on year," he explained. "Everyday Swim can
provide a delivery system to make this happen.
"Everyday Swim is about generating excitement and interest
in swimming and providing aquatic activities in a different
way. Based locally, it has the power to really make a difference
and it will provide strong evidence to show why people should
invest in swimming to increase participation and hit targets."
Pilots are taking place in Easington (County Durham), Islington
(London), Kirklees (West Yorkshire), Lewisham (London), Suffolk,
Telford & Wrekin, Wirral and Woking (Surrey).
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