The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has given its backing to the government programme Building Schools for the Future (BSF) through its added value from swimming document.

BSF is a government-funded programme through the Department for Children, Families and Schools. It is the largest single capital investment programme in England and is aimed at rebuilding and renewing England’s state secondary schools where there is a need.

It looks to ensure that pupils have a world-class environment in which to learn so that they are able to achieve their full potential. Not only this, it hopes to engage the wider community through new facilities and technology.

As a national governing body of sport, the ASA puts its educational responsibilities at the forefront of its priorities. The ASA has a major recommendation in that as many schools involved in the BSF programme should include a swimming pool as part of its plans.

Swimming is a life skill and due to one in five of the population unable to swim, having a pool available to schools and the wider community can help people to learn at an early age or to take up the sport in later life.

And with rising levels of child and adult obesity in the country, a local swimming pool can go a long way to encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle comments ASA Director of English Programmes, Anne Adams-King.

“Swimming is an activity which is suitable for all people in a community. It is not bound by ability and is a fun, recreational activity in which all the family can be involved.

“Everyone should be given to opportunity to swim, or to take those first steps in learning. Aquatic activities are widely accepted as having a unique contribution to the health and well-being of the nation so any increase in the number of pools in England can only improve this further,” said Adams-King.

In the ASA’s Building Schools for the Future - added value from swimming document offers guidelines to help local decisions for those involved in the programme. The document also contains case studies showing how education and local authorities can achieve various aims.

Swimming is the most popular sport in the UK (only after walking), with 11.9 million people taking part on a regular basis. Surveys have also indicated that swimming is the most likely activity they would like to take up.

To date, the BSF has been a missed opportunity in terms of swimming and with there been a shortage of pools around the country, the programme has the potential to change these figures.

The ASA believes that were it is deemed possible, pools should be provided on school sites. As we look towards the London 2012 Olympics in four years’ time the provision of sports facilities in schools can inspire a new generation of sports men and women.

To download the Building Schools for the Future - added value from swimming document please CLICK HERE.

-ENDS-

For further information contact ASA Media Assistant Stephanie West on 01509 632 236, 07917 876 459 or e-mail stephanie.west@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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