Free swimming website calls on industry feedback

With free and reduced price swimming initiatives taking place across the country this summer, the Amateur Swimming Association is calling on leisure providers to share their findings on its interactive online toolkit www.freeswimming.org

Launched earlier this year, www.freeswimming.org is a comprehensive toolkit for anyone considering a free swimming initiative. Providing a 'warts and all' account of the benefits and pitfalls of such schemes, it includes case studies and an interactive peer support section and relies on input from facility operators in order to share best practice across the country.

Swimming is the nation's biggest participation sport and the activity most inactive people say they would consider trying. Free and reduced price swimming can convert potential users to regular swimmers - increasing the footfall and improving the health of the local community.

Swimming Activity Manager Kate Sargant believes www.freeswimming.org provides a valuable resource for facility providers and can only be improved by operators across the country contributing their experiences.

"Free swimming is something that many pools have tried, but the results are very varied," she said. "freeswimming.org provides a range of information on implementing free swimming initiatives and also allows those who have offered free swimming to share their experiences with providers across the country.

"This website gives the swimming industry invaluable information on how to make swimming affordable in such a way that it attracts and sustains new participants."

Leisure providers are invited to list their free swimming initiatives on www.freeswimming.org by emailing freeswimming@swimming.org and press releases for inclusion on the site should be sent to amanda.smith@swimming.org

eNews issue 58