Everyone Active achieves Swim England accreditation for learn to swim programme

Everyone Active has been awarded Swim England’s Learn to Swim Accreditation for all 140 of its leisure centres delivering swimming lessons.

The new two-year accreditation means the charitable leisure trust will, in 2026, have held the quality mark for ten years in a row.

Swim England’s accreditation recognises excellence in governance, sustainability and effectiveness for swim schools and operators delivering the national governing body’s Learn to Swim programme – and can be used to raise the profile of their Learn to Swim offer locally.

Accredited organisations receive a certificate, personalised plaque and the Swim England Accredited Provider logo to display in their facilities and use on promotional material, to help parents and learners recognise the operator as a deliverer of the quality Learn to Swim programme

Everyone Active currently has more than 3,600 swim teachers qualified to Swim England’s Level 2 through the Institute of Swimming, leading more than 25,000 swim classes per week for more than 180,000 students in partnership with more than 65 local authorities across the UK.  

Ian Cotton, group aquatic and activity manager at Everyone Active said: “We’re proud to have achieved Learn to Swim accreditation at all our swimming facilities. 

“This achievement is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our fantastic colleagues across the country.

“Independent verification of our standard processes and procedures through the Swim England accreditation is an important element of us maintaining a high-quality scheme. 

“Swim lessons are a key part of our business, and holding the national governing body accreditation endorses the great work undertaken by our swim managers and swim teachers.”

The Learn to Swim Accreditation assessment is undertaken by health and safety and quality management company, Right Directions, which manages the process on behalf of Swim England.  

Acknowledges excellence

It can be carried out as a one-day stand-alone assessment or alternatively can be completed for free, as part of Sport England’s quality assurance mark, Quest. 

The scheme assesses key business areas including:

• business development processes
• workforce development
•  health and safety, quality assurance, compliance and safeguarding
• customer satisfaction
• programme delivery, targets and operating standards
• class structures and programmes 
• swimmer pathways
• marketing and communications

Fleur Standen, technical aquatics manager at Swim England said: “The Swim England Learn to Swim Accreditation, facilitated through Right Directions, not only raises the profile of the Learn to Swim programme offer at facilities but also acknowledges the excellence in governance, sustainability and effectiveness. 

“It is fantastic to see the amount of Everyone Active sites that have completed the Learn to Swim Accreditation and share their continued commitment to aquatics and their standard of excellence.”

Sarah Lobo, head of external accreditations at Right Directions, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for Everyone Active. 

“Every two years, 20 per cent of their sites must be rigorously assessed by our team in order to achieve accreditation nationally – it’s a big commitment. 

“We select facilities from all regions, as well as sites from any new contracts they have gained in the previous two years, to guarantee good representation from across the country and ensure all sites are up to Everyone Active’s high standards.  

“If just one site doesn’t pass the assessment, then all 140 leisure centres fail. 

“To have held the accreditation since 2016 shows Everyone Active’s utmost dedication to delivering the best possible Learn to Swim experience.”