Wear Valley District Council is the latest organisation to sign up to implement the ASA’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) at its two sites, Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex and Glenholme Leisure Complex.

The new five-year deal formalises the relationship with the national governing body and sees them working in partnership until 2014.

The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for learn to swim schemes, means the pools will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system.  The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.

The NPTS will run alongside the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit over 500 people that currently access swimming lessons at the two centres via busy swim school and schools programmes.

Angela Thompson, Swim Coordinator, said: “Giving young people more choice of ways to swim in the water encourages them to find something they like and is a great way of keeping them in the sport as they can go on to learn different and more complex activities. The Journey Through Aquatics Programme is based around play which makes learning to swim fun.

“We have approximately 550 children in our learn to swim scheme and the ASA’s wealth of knowledge in aquatics and access to their development team for the support and advice is invaluable for constantly improving our service to our customers.”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Kellogg’s has been working in partnership with the ASA since 1997, investing £1 million a year between 2006 and 2008. We’re passionate about promoting the ongoing benefits of physical activity and hope to break down barriers that prevent families from participating in swimming through the Kellogg’s Swim Active programme.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact the ASA Marketing Officer Esther Hope on 01509 632238, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.

The ASA 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.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Kellogg’s
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.