Scottish Learn to Swim Framework receives gold standard from European Aquatics

“We are delighted that Learn to Swim has achieved this fantastic gold-standard - this is recognition that we’re making a really positive difference in creating a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers.”

Peter Farrer
Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water

The Learn to Swim National Framework, led by Scottish Swimming and supported by Scottish Water, was awarded Gold Level Certification during the Swim Safe Europe Conference of European Aquatics in Paris on 7-8 August, recognising the Framework’s dedicated commitment to water safety, swimming education, and learning to swim. 

The Conference, which was attended by delegates from Swimming Federations from across Europe, addressed the future of Learn to Swim in Europe, while sharing experience and best practice in drowning prevention, retaining young people in aquatics, and embracing innovation in swimming teaching. 

Safety in and around water and drowning prevention are the main objectives of the Learn to Swim National Framework, which has a shared vision to create ‘Generation Swim’, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer.  
 
With a focus on water safety knowledge and skills, the Water Safety Code is integrated throughout the framework, aligning with Water Safety Scotland’s drowning prevention initiatives. Swimming is a hugely valuable skill and learning the basics at any age is vital. The programme helps to equip people with skills that will help them to be safer in and out of the water – whether at their local pool, at the beach on holiday or around Scotland’s miles of coastline, rivers, reservoirs and lochs.  

John Lunn, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming, said: 

“Being only one of four Federations to achieve the gold-standard for our Learn to Swim National Framework is testament to the hard work delivered daily by our Local Authority and Leisure Trust partners across Scotland. Water safety and quality swimming teaching form a common thread throughout Learn to Swim and Scottish Swimming is immensely proud that European Aquatics has recognised these efforts at a European level.” 

Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water, said:  

“We are delighted that Learn to Swim has achieved this fantastic gold-standard - this is recognition that we’re making a really positive difference in creating a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers.  Ensuring people of all ages and abilities have access to learn to swim to help them feel confident and safer in the water is vital, especially in a country like Scotland where there are more than 30,000 lochs, rivers and reservoirs and almost 12,000 miles of coastline.” 

The Learn to Swim Framework developed by Scottish Swimming and delivered by partners across Scotland, ensures consistent quality of swimming lessons through supportive and inclusive learn to swim environments which help children and adults of all ages, abilities and skill levels to become confident, safer and competent swimmers.  

The National Framework is delivered by 38 Leisure Trusts and Aquatic Providers in more than 165 pools across Scotland and has already seen over 220,000 people of all ages take part in swimming lessons across the country since 2017. 

For more information on Learn to Swim can be found on its website: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim