The Amateur Swimming Association and fit as a fiddle in the South East

Background….

• Two out of five people aged over 50 can’t swim

• fit as a fiddle - Big Lottery Funding through Age UK Oxfordshire

• Free pool time and marketing provided by Nexus Community

• A £15,000 project to run free swimming lessons for weak or non-swimmers aged 50 and over

• Participants signed up to eight, forty-five minute free swimming lessons at their local pool

The programme….

• Started in April 2010• 7 swimming pool sites across Oxfordshire and 3 sites in

Buckinghamshire• 372 older people learnt to swim through the programme• 86% of those signed up, attended over half the weekly sessions• 1 in 3 continuing to swim in weekly 50+ sessions and more still

enrolling in further adult lessons at the centre• By the end of 2011, 500 older people benefited from this project • Each swimmer completed a swim diary to demonstrate the impact

and chart their personal journey

The learning…..

• Social element key• The more positive the social aspect, the more motivated the

swimmers were to attend• Sense of camaraderie and enjoyment is central to the continual

development of the swimmers • Significant number of participants who took part in the swimming

began participating in other leisure centre activities on a regular basis

• Participants were more willing to re-evaluate their initial negative stereotype of going to their local leisure centre

• New need highlighted

“It is these organisations and partnerships that are essential in

targeting the hard to reach people and groups that are currently not

engaged in activity, and will create a solid foundation to build long term

activities and provide support with”

“…I didn’t think I would be able to do this. Now don’t feel nervous about coming to the swimming pool and getting in the water…”

“…my confidence has blossomed and I feel a lot safer in the water…”

“…I never thought I would get the opportunity to do this, I enjoyed every minute….”