Prime Minister backs water safety campaign

Swim England has welcomed the Prime Minister’s support for a national campaign backed by the Swimming Alliance and Swim England, aimed at ensuring every child receives vital water safety education.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has committed the Government to “doing whatever we can”, to improve water safety awareness and education across the country.

The campaign is calling on the Government to take urgent action to improve public awareness of how to minimise risk whilst open water swimming, increase access to lifesaving equipment, and ensure all children are taught essential water safety skills.

As part of the campaign, Swim England is supporting calls for the Government to launch a nationwide public awareness drive ahead of the summer holidays. This campaign would provide clear, potentially lifesaving advice, including:

• Avoiding diving or jumping into open water
• Understanding the dangers of cold water shock
• Recognising how quickly conditions can change in natural environments

A Call for Leadership on Water Safety

Swim England also supports the call for a dedicated Minister for Water Safety in England, as is already the case in Wales and Scotland.

This role would help ensure a coordinated, strategic approach to tackling drowning as a preventable public health issue.

Recognising drowning in this way would strengthen efforts across government, education and emergency services to reduce water-related deaths.

Working Together for Lasting Change

Swim England now looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to ensure the Government takes meaningful action on this issue.

A key part of that must include addressing the ongoing challenges with school swimming provision, ensuring every child has access to high-quality lessons and the opportunity to develop both swimming ability and vital water safety skills.