Swim England welcomes Reconomics report

Swim England is pleased to have contributed to the  latest Reconomics report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature.

The third instalment of the report was launched in Parliament on Monday at a joint meeting, and highlights the significant economic and social benefits of outdoor activity.

Commissioned by the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Water Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits Divisions, the Reconomics report builds on ten years of research into how outdoor activity supports the UK economy, communities and national wellbeing.

The report highlights how access to the UK’s green and blue spaces delivers significant physical and mental wellbeing benefits to millions of people, whilst also generating economic value through creating jobs, saving NHS resources and driving spending on outdoor leisure.

It also found that participation in outdoor recreation continues to grow, with 34.3 million people of all ages now engaging in outdoor activities, an increase of more than 3.1 million participants over the past decade.

The report also recognises the continued rise of open water swimming, with more than four million adults now swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea each year.

Regular participation in open water swimming has more than doubled, from around 266,000 adults in 2016-17; by 2023–24, to 543,000 in 2023-24, reflecting the growing appeal of open water swimming as a fun, accessible and rewarding way to stay active and connect with nature.