Fuel up, feel great, do what you love – new campaign launches to support young people in aquatics

A new campaign has been launched to help young people, parents and carers, coaches and club volunteers understand the importance of energy, nutrition and wellbeing in aquatics.

Fuel up and feel great – that’s the heart of this campaign. It’s about helping everyone understand that low energy can affect how a young person feels, trains or plays – and that tiredness, grumpiness or taking longer to recover isn’t a weakness; they may just be signs that you need more fuel, more rest or your body is changing.

Back in 2023, Swim England launched its Low Energy Availability guidance, which was welcomed by Olympic medallist Cassie Patten who has previously spoken openly about her experiences with disordered eating.

This campaign looks to improve the education and understanding of this guidance, something which Cassie says she is ‘fully behind’.

Adding her support for the ‘Fuel up and feel great’ campaign, she said: “I’m fully behind Swim England’s campaign to raise awareness of fuelling properly.

“Getting nutrition right has a real impact – not only on a young person’s performance in the pool, but also on their overall health and wellbeing in everyday life, which can only be a positive outcome.”

Helping to spot the signs

The campaign uses simple, relatable storytelling to explain how bodies sometimes run low on energy – just like a car running out of fuel. It encourages children and young people to see food as a friend, to recognise the signs of low energy and to talk to trusted adults if they’re worried.

Parents are given guidance on how to support their child’s nutrition, spot early signs of disordered eating and know when to seek extra help. Coaches and volunteers are also provided with tools to support positive behaviour change and create safe, healthy environments.

Empowering the community

Swim England want more young people, adults, coaches and volunteers to understand what type of actions and behaviours are, and are not, acceptable – and to feel confident speaking up if something doesn’t look right.

By building awareness around nutrition, energy and wellbeing, this campaign aims to create a culture where everyone feels supported, valued and empowered to thrive both in sport and in life.

On the campaign, Swim England chief executive Andy Salmon, said: “This campaign is more than just a message about nutrition – it’s about listening to our community and putting the person at the centre of our approach.

“We’re working towards improving the culture across aquatics and creating an environment where young people, parents, volunteers, coaches and teachers feel confident to speak up, seek help and support one another.

“We know that we’re in the early stages of this journey, with more to be done across our sports, but this campaign is another step in ensuring all of our members feel supported.”

To learn more about Swim England’s ‘Fuel up and feel great’ campaign, please click here.