\u201cWe\u2019re confident that this pioneering research will improve our understanding of the issues and barriers that children and adults in African, Caribbean and Asian communities face in learning to swim and engaging in aquatics and water safety, and that they will go on to benefit from aquatic activity throughout their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time we will gain real insight into whether these barriers are cultural, faith-based, community influenced or based on individual circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope, through a combination of the research and a community engagement programme, to affect real change in the aquatic sector.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

$\"Alice$
Photo Courtesy: Liz Byrnes<\/p><\/div>\n
Alice Dearing<\/strong> is a co-founder of the BSA and made history in Tokyo when she became Great Britain\u2019s first black female Olympic swimmer,<\/a> finishing 19th in the 10km marathon event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited about this new project,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge step towards getting more people from ethnically-diverse backgrounds engaged in aquatics and all it has to offer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Professor Mike Tipton<\/strong>, MBE, lead researcher and academic partner at the University of Portsmouth will lead the water-based research, which is expected to analyse the physiological reasons that are widely believed prevent people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage from being proficient swimmers, whilst teaching participants about floatability.<\/p>\n
He said:<\/p>\n
“By examining the physiological, anatomical and morphological characteristics of African, Caribbean and Asian volunteers in air and water, the proposed research will hopefully help to dispel the myth that these individuals are unable to stay afloat and therefore enjoy water-based activities.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Professor Tipton\u2019s previous research has been a cornerstone of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution<\/strong>\u2019s (RNLI) FLOAT to Live safety campaign, which encourages anyone in trouble in the water to resist the urge to thrash around, relax and lean back, extending their arms and legs like a starfish to regain control of their breathing.<\/p>\n
The research project, which will be woven into a large-scale community engagement programme, will also seek to create lasting relationships between disengaged communities and the aquatics sector.<\/p>\n
The BSA will then work with its partners across the leisure, health and education sectors to co-create solutions and enable stronger representation at all levels of aquatics.<\/p>\n
The RNLI is backing the BSA\u2019s innovative new research programme with the two organisations forming a partnership to collaborate on water safety and drowning prevention work.<\/p>\n
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Black Swimming Association: Photo Courtesy: Speedo<\/p><\/div>\n
RNLI Head of Water Safety, Gareth Morrison<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RNLI\u2019s vision is to save everyone, and an essential part of this is ensuring effective water safety messaging and education in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy joining forces with the Black Swimming Association the combined reach and influence of our organisations will far exceed anything either could do alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are extremely proud to be working with the BSA and doing all we can to reduce drowning in the African, Caribbean and Asian communities in the UK and Ireland.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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