Free swimming for all by 2012 in £130m campaign for a healthier Britain
June 7th 2008
All the papers report that Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham, Culture Secretary, are to announce today that by 2012 swimming will be free for everyone at pools run by local authorities.
Initially free swimming will be free for the over-60s and under-16s. Five government departments have combined resources to come forward with a £130m fund the free charges for the elderly and the young. £80m will go on waiving the charges and £50m on refurbishment. Almost £250m of public money has been invested in swimming since 1997. At present, 50% of people take part in no sporting activity and the Government believes that swimming is one of the most accessible ways for people, particularly the elderly, to get fit. Mr Burnham said: “Swimming has universal appeal for all ages and provides the opportunity for families to participate in healthy activity together. Our aim is to help as many areas as possible remove charges and provide some kind of free swimming proposition. All the evidence shows that it removes barriers to those who are inactive. It is for local authorities to decide just how far they want to go.”
The pledge is part of the Olympic Legacy Action Plan to be unveiled today. In addition, Sport England is to be streamlined drastically with its regional board structure abolished to save £20m. This money will be channelled into sports governing bodies for coaching and promotion to encourage more people to become involved. Sport England has a target to reduce by 25% the “drop-off” in participation in five as yet unidentified sports after the school-leaving age of 16.
Swimming was chosen as the priority sport in the plan as it is thought to have potential to bridge exercise and recreation.
Paul Kelso in the Guardian Sport additionally mentions assisted gym membership but gives no further details. None of the other papers mentions this aspect. Several other ministers including Alan Johnson will be present at the launch of the plan.
(Times p5; Telegraph p2; Mail p25; Sun p6; Mirror p4; Independent p18; Guardian p8)
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