What is it?
Swimming is the practice of moving oneself through water in various manners - it is one of the public's most popular recreational sports, and is often included in compulsory education in schools, particularly for Primary age students.
What does it involve?
The basics of swimming involve learning the various established styles of stroke used to move through the water, coordinating all the body parts to work together for the most efficient movement. Once an individual is confident in the water there are a number of sporting activities that involve swimming, and many people find it relaxing to swim in their spare time.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
The physical benefits of swimming are well documented - it exercises the majority of the body and can help with posture and stress levels as well as being a lot of fun. Swimming is also fairly instinctual for humans, so it's easy to pick up once you've mastered the basics, and is a great life skill.
What equipment do we need?
Swimwear is a must for every participant, as well as towels and toiletries for showering and drying off after the event. Hats are often compulsory in pools while conditions such as veruccas can render a student unable to participate.
Who is it suitable for?
Students of any age can go swimming, but be aware of the varying levels of skill you are likely to find in a group - not everyone will necessarily have the same experience, and will therefore need different teaching.
Costs?
Costs of entry to swimming pools and booking lessons will vary between establishments. General admission is normally under £5 for a reasonable size pool, but make sure to check out the varying prices in your area to get the best deal for a group!
Issues/Things to think about?
Beginner swimmers (especially young children) should never be left unsupervised while swimming as you can quickly lose control in the water when inexperienced. Pools should have trained lifeguards on duty at all times in case of emergency.
How do we include?
Physically disabled individuals can swim reasonably easily assisted by various buoyancy aids, and other types of disabilties are also often catered for - swimming is a reasonably good activity to include everybody in if you choose a venue with the right set up for the needs of your group.
Doing it abroad?
Swimming is popular all over the world, and its extremely unlikely you will find a destination without a place to swim nearby. Countries with warmer climates also tend to have pools as part of accommodation, so if you are visiting such a place you may not have to go far to access a swimming pool at all. It is well worth ensuring you are happy with safety equipment supporting your activity, plus checking the amount of supervision and level of expertise of the staff on duty. Knowing emergency procedures and where life-saving equipment is located is also a very good idea and can save vital seconds in the case of an emergency.
Main website:
Visit the Amateur Swimming Association - http://www.swimming.org for some great general information and to find out more about the School Swimming Charter - but always consult a venue's individual website for the venue or provider's specifications.
Grange Paddocks Pool and Gym is set in the town of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and offers the local community a range of indoor and outdoor facilities.
Outside there are 13 sports pitches and a 1500m trim trail for runners. Indoors is serviced by a crèche, meeting room, two swimming pools, gym and group exercise studio.
In the heart of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire you will find Hucknall Leisure Centre which offers customers a wide range of activities and sports.
There is a large gym, a dedicated group cycling studio, a group exercise programme, a 25m swimming pool, sports hall and two squash courts.
Near the town of Eye you will find Stradbroke Swim and Fitness Centre which offers a gym, group exercise programme, swimming pool and tennis courts to the local community.
Set in Northolt, Middlesex, Northolt Leisure Centre offers an extensive range of activities and facilities to the local community.
There are two swimming pools, a large gym, two dance studios, a community hall, two treatment rooms, a library, café and meeting rooms.
Central Park Leisure Centre in Romford, Essex, provides local people with a wide range of facilities under one roof as well as an outdoor multi-use games area for Football, Tennis and Netball.
Inside you will find a group exercise studio, crèche, sports hall, health suite, gym and swimming pools.
Loughton Leisure Centre offers the local community a gym, two swimming pools, a group exercise studio, crèche and a café.
Uttoxeter Leisure Centre closed its doors at the end of 2013 and is currently undergoing a large full site redevelopment.
A fantastic new leisure centre situated in the heart of historical St Albans in Hertfordshire, Westminster Lodge offers facilities that are second to none.
The newest leisure centre in Carshalton, Surrey, Westcroft Leisure Centre features a range of activities. There are two swimming pools, an 8 court sports hall, group exercise studios, a 160 station gym, a day spa, crèche, meeting facilities and café at Westcroft Leisure Centre.
Daventry Leisure Centre in Northamptonshire offers a huge selection of activities both in the leisure centre and in the sports park.
A previous winner of UK Active FLAME Leisure Centre of the Year, Fareham Leisure Centre offers facilities and service that are second to none.
This Hampshire leisure centre offers a gym, group exercise studios, swimming pools, sports hall, squash courts and Dance School as well as a crèche and award winning café.
Harrow Leisure Centre is a large facility that provides an extensive range of activities to the local community.
It offers a gym, two swimming pools, a large sports hall, multi-purpose halls, squash courts, dance studios, table tennis centre, crèche and café.
One of the largest leisure centres in the area, Eston Leisure Centre offers a range of sports and activities to the people of Eston in Cleveland.
The sports academy houses two swimming pools, a sauna and steamroom, group exercise studio, sports hall, gym, beauty salon, café, 3G indoor five-a-side football and meeting rooms.
Situated close to the centre of Thrapston, The Nene Centre has a wide range of leisure facilities for all the family including a swimming pool, 2 fitness studios, a cafeteria and an air-conditioned gym.
In picturesque North Dorset sits the town of Blandford which is served by Blandford Leisure Centre.
The leisure centre features two swimming pools, a gym, a multi-use hall, sport hall, Nordic sauna, café and tennis courts.
Set in the Hertfordshire town of Sawbridgeworth, Leventhorpe Pool and Gym offers the local community the opportunity to get active both in and out of the water.
At Fanshawe Pool and Gym in Ware, Hertfordshire, you will find a new and improved gym, multi activity room and a swimming pool.
This Hertfordshire gym offers the very latest in fitness equipment and is staffed by our fully qualified gym staff. In the pool you will find our award winning swim school as well as a range of water based activities.
Set in a beautiful location in Plymouth and voted one of the top 10 best outdoor pools in Europe, Tinside Lido is an attraction not to be missed.
One of the country’s leading sporting venues, Plymouth Life Centre provides both locals and tourists with a fantastic range of sport and activity to get involved with.
Open during the summer months, Mount Wise Swimming Pools offer local people and visitors to Devon with a choice of outdoor swimming.
We have a 25m main pool, a paddling pool and an activity pool alongside a sunbathing terrace. If you are looking to swim or just paddle in the warm British sunshine then make sure you visit Mount Wise Swimming Pools in Plymouth, Devon.
Spelthorne Leisure Centre can be found in the heart of Staines- upon-Thames in Middlesex. This leisure centre provides a range of different sports and activities for the local community.
Above & Below offer an amazing range of courses and diving experiences from our premier 5 Star PADI IDC diving centres in Hull and Pontefract. We have exclusive access to our own impressive 32 acre open water site called Blue Lagoon designed specifically for divers which boasts excellent visibility.
We offer safe, exciting and educational holidays for young people. A place where children can meet new friends, build confidence, develop social skills and gain wonderful memories.
A place where parents and teachers can be sure their children are well cared for and are receiving high quality activities and English tuition.
Set in the heart of Watford, Hertfordshire, Watford Leisure Centre Central offers a fantastic mix of activities from gym to swim, group exercise to sports, climbing to relaxing.
Facilities include a leisure pool with beach entry, adventure soft play, sports hall, pre school activities, climbing wall and roller skating.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.
Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.
The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.