Decade of Teaching Scotland to Swim Capped at Anniversary Event

“The legacy of this programme is visible in every pool, every community, and every child who discovers the joy of being in the water. It’s something everyone involved should be hugely proud of.”

Forbes Dunlop
CEO, sportscotland

A programme that has created a legacy of confident swimmers across Scotland has reached a major milestone, celebrating ten years of transforming lives through the power of swimming.

Learn to Swim, delivered in partnership by Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water, has now helped more than 210,000 people of all ages and abilities to learn one of life’s most important skills.

The milestone was marked with a special event at Dynamic Earth, where partners, national governing bodies, leisure trusts and aquatic providers from across Scotland joined Learn to Swim ambassadors and MSPs Liz Smith, Joe Fitzpatrck and Neil Bibby to celebrate the achievements, stories and partnerships that have shaped the programme over the past decade.

The event was attended by representatives from leisure trusts and aquatic providers from across the country, with speakers including current and former Scottish Swimming Chief Executives John Lunn, Euan Lowe and Forbes Dunlop, and from supporting partner Scottish Water.

Guests also heard from Learn to Swim ambassadors and Olympic and Paralympic medallists Duncan Scott and Toni Shaw, who shared powerful insights into their own journeys and their roles in inspiring the next generation of swimmers.

Duncan Scott MBE, Britian’s most decorated Olympian and Learn to Swim ambassador since 2017 said: “Swimming has given me so much- confidence, resilience, and a real sense of purpose and it all started with learning the basics. That’s why the Learn to Swim programme means so much to me.

“It’s incredible to see how many young people across Scotland have discovered a love for the water through this programme. Learning to swim is a skill that stays with you for life, and seeing so many children gain that confidence and joy in the pool is genuinely inspiring. I’m proud to play a small part in helping the next generation take those first strokes on their own journey.”

Forbes Dunlop, former CEO of Scottish Swimming and current CEO of sportscotland said: “What Learn to Swim has achieved over the last ten years is remarkable. It’s not just about teaching people to swim- it’s about building confidence, creating opportunities, and inspiring lifelong participation in sport.

“The legacy of this programme is visible in every pool, every community and every child who discovers the joy of being in the water. It’s something everyone involved should be hugely proud of.”

The Learn to Swim Framework is now delivered by 38 leisure trusts and aquatic providers across 167 pools nationwide. Each week, around 84,000 children and adults take part in swimming lessons, with ambitions to reach a further 50,000 by 2028.

Andrew Walker, Head of Corporate Affairs, at Scottish Water, said: “Scottish Water is proud to support Learn to Swim and work with Scottish Swimming, our Learn to Swim ambassadors and all the leisure trusts and aquatic providers across the country to create ‘Generation Swim’, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers of all ages and abilities, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy Scotland’s miles of rivers, lochs, reservoirs and shorelines safely and with confidence.

"Supporting Learn to Swim is about more than just helping individuals learn to swim and how to be safer in and around water – it’s an amazing opportunity to make a difference and be part of creating a meaningful legacy for Scotland.”

John Lunn, Chief Executive at Scottish Swimming, added: “Whether it’s a child learning in the shallow end, someone in their seventies conquering a lifelong fear, or an individual with unique needs taking their first steps in the water, Learn to Swim has changed so many lives.

“So much has been achieved, but there’s still more we want to do. We want to reach more people and help ensure that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to learn to swim.”

Learn to Swim is a National Framework which is committed to creating inclusive, supportive and quality environments where individuals of all ages and abilities can learn to swim. The vision is to create "Generation Swim", a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, while promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

Safety in and around water and drowning prevention is central to the Framework. Learning to swim provides essential life skills to help people stay safer whether at local pools, beaches, or around Scotland’s coastline, rivers, reservoirs and lochs.

As the programme enters its second decade, partners are looking ahead to continue building on its success, empowering more people to enjoy the lifelong benefits of swimming, water safety and confidence.

For more on the Learn to Swim programme, visit Scottish Swimming