What will you do for swimming this year?

While access to swimming isn’t about to disappear, it is under threat on several fronts, says Simon Griffiths. He suggests what we can all do to help.

Swimming boosts your health and fitness. It connects you with nature and other swimmers, and it makes us feel good. But what do we do for swimming?

It would be easy to take swimming for granted, but we shouldn’t. While access to swimming isn’t about to disappear, it is under threat on several fronts.

For example, where I swim in the Thames, a popular spot near Teddington Lock, Thames Water have plans to abstract up to one third of the water and replace it with sewage effluent as part of a drought resilience scheme. The popular swimming lake in Shepperton may disappear as part of a flood alleviation project. While we need both secure water supplies and protection from flooding, there must be alternatives that won’t stop people swimming.

Beyond specific locations, much swimmable water is out of bounds in the UK and almost everywhere is at risk of pollution. Nor do pool swimmers escape: prices keep going up and our stock of pools is aging.
We should also keep in mind that access to swimming is unequal. Some, like myself, are fortunate to have access to multiple swimming pools and a free, easily accessible outdoor swimming spot (for now, at least). We had parents who took us swimming and sent us to lessons. Swimming is part of our culture. Others face multiple barriers due to costs, culture, physical distance from suitable swimming spots and lack of transport.

Last month, you may have set yourself some swimming related goals for 2024. Most likely these linked to something you would like to achieve for yourself. But why not add another one now in support of swimming itself?

Our suggestions include:

– Set up or join a campaign to apply for Bathing Water Status at your local swimming spot.
– Join a campaign group for improved access to inland waters.
– Let your political representatives know how much you care about water quality and help keep it a political and election campaign issue.
– Protest about pollution and make the case for change.
– Become a swimming evangelist – not the type who tells everyone how great they are because they swim outdoors but the sort who encourages and helps other people access swimming’s many benefits.
– Resolve to regularly clear litter from your swim spots.
– Volunteer to help out with a local swimming club or group.

Swimming inherently supports your health, fitness and wellbeing. But what do you do in return? The more you do for swimming, the more it does for you. How will you make swimming better in 2024?