February in the swim community

NOWCA and Mental Health Swims give us the lowdown on what they’re up to this month, from showcasing safe outdoor swimming to taking action on water pollution

Here’s what swim venue network NOWCA and mental health peer support community Mental Heath Swims are up to this month.

NOWCA: Showcasing safe open water swimming

NOWCA is back again at the 2024 National Outdoor Expo at NEC Birmingham from 23-24 March. We will be hosting some exciting activities at the exhibition to showcase safe open water swimming.  

If you are new to open water swimming and want to get started, then come and speak to our team who can help guide you. They will also be on hand for venue managers or water owners who want advice about water safety and how to successfully manage an open water location.   

Inside the exhibition hall, we will be demonstrating our integrated system and how it has supported both venues and swimmers. Most excitingly, we will also be launching the newest version of the NOWCA Wild app!  

Outside at Pendigo Lake, NOWCA members can take part in a free open water swim or join one of our free Cold Water Inductions with our coaches. Spaces are limited so bookings are essential via the ACTiO app.  

There’s going to be plenty to do and learn about over the weekend. There’s also lots of prizes to be won! Check out our full schedule of events at our website: nowca.org

Mental Health Swims: Promote awareness and take action

Far too many members of the Mental Health Swims community have had to postpone swim meet ups due to sewage spills and polluted water, not just beachside swim locations, but rivers and lakes too. If the devastating impact on the environment wasn’t enough, postponing our group swims means that people are not getting consistent mental health peer support in a format which they enjoy.

This can create feelings of disappointment and anxiety which can feel very heavy for those that already struggle with mental health challenges. We therefore feel strongly about protecting all bodies of water and the wildlife that lives in and around them. If we don’t act, there may come a time when we aren’t able to enjoy the water anymore and get those wonderful benefits that we all adore.  

Many people experience anxiety and struggle with their mental health when processing the impact of pollution and climate change. If you are experiencing this, we’d recommend that you speak with someone and share your feelings, this could be your GP, your friends or your local mental health support group. As well as this you, could get involved with the campaign work that organisations such at The Rivers Trust and Surfers Against Sewage do to help promote awareness and take action.