A swimmer’s safety net across the UK

Working with swim venues to ensure safety for swimmers and developing technology to give swimmers extra peace of mind: NOWCA has been making waves in keeping us safe in the water

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Our August issue is all about swimming safe, and celebrates all the incredible individuals and organisations who support our passion for swimming in the open air.

One of the organisations we celebrate is NOWCA, the UK’s leading open water venue network with over 40 swimming locations.

What is NOWCA, and how does it keep swimmers safe?

Safe places to swim

NOWCA (pronounced ‘Know-car’) is an open water venue network with over 40 swimming locations across the UK. The organisation gives each venue free access to its specialized systems designed to make swimmers safer, reduce admin and put money back in the pockets of the swimming venues. This ultimately enables more people to swim more often and more safely.

When you swim at a NOWCA-affiliated venue, such as London Royal Docks, Queenford Lakes or Manley Mere, you know you’re swimming somewhere that has swimmer safety at the top of its priorities.

A safety app

In addition to its range of perks for members, NOWCA recently launched NOWCA Wild – a new safety tool for wild swimmers and groups. As well as using the app to search for swimming locations, you can also track your swims, set up a safety contact and seek out local groups you can arrange to swim with.

Find out more about how digital editor Abi got on with the NOWCA Wild app while on a day out near Bristol.

Swim safety coaching

NOWCA’s founder, Rick Kiddle – former British triathlon champion – helped develop the very first Open Water Swimming qualification, the STA Level 2 Open Water Swimming Coaching. NOWCA now runs the STA Open Water Coaching and RLSS Open Water Lifeguard qualification, and their team of Trainer Assessors means they’re able to further support the training and development of lifeguards and coaches. NOWCA also provides a series of online courses for open water swimmers that impart exactly the kind of knowledge we need to swim more safely.

A growing network

Week by week, more safe swimming locations are added to NOWCA’s network alongside more community groups joining NOWCA Wild and more safety advice being added to the app’s resources. NOWCA is a growing community of wild swimmers, and we’re excited to see how it’s journey continues to unfold!

Find out more about becoming a member of NOWCA or joining the venue network at nowca.org