Scottish Swimming Welcomes School Swimming Funding From Scottish Government
Scottish Swimming has welcomed the news that primary schoolchildren will get access to swimming lessons with a universal learn to swim offer.
The announcement was made in the Scottish budget on 13 January with the Scottish Government pledging the funds for school swimming.
In addition, sports activities during the school summer holidays will be free for all via a scheme called ‘Summer of Sport.’
This will coincide with the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow in July with Scotland competing in the World Cup which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Photo Courtesy: Jamie Williamson
The governing body said: “Scottish Swimming is delighted by the Scottish Government Budget announcement to support school swimming through a ‘learn to swim offer for primary school children’. This much needed and timely funding will benefit thousands of young people across Scotland, equipping children with the vital water safety knowledge and basic swimming skills to keep them safer in, on and around water.”
Graeme Marchbank, Chair of Scottish Swimming, added: “The funding for school swimming will ensure fair and equal access for all children to essential water safety skills. With the cost of swimming lessons rising significantly in the last seven years, this funding will ensure all children, regardless of background, can learn basic swimming skills and gain the water safety knowledge they desperately need.”
John Lunn, CEO of Scottish Swimming said: “We have delivered successful pilot programmes of a National Primary School Swimming Framework, supported by sportscotland and Scottish Water, in 10 Local Authority areas, and having championed a Support School Swimming campaign for the last eighteen months, we are delighted that the Scottish Government has committed to support the phased national roll out of school swimming across Scotland.
“This funding will ensure all Primary 5 pupils gain fair and equal access to basic swimming skills. This is critical given that we are an island nation with over 11000 km of coastline and around 30,000 inland waters.”
Public and local authority support for school swimming has been significant. An opinion poll by JL Partners in 2024 found that 93% of the Scottish population think all children should learn to swim and 91% think learning to swim is an important part of every child’s education.