Double Olympic Champion, Rebecca Adlington, launched the British Gas Pools 4 Schools initiative yesterday, giving thousands of British children the chance to learn to swim in temporary pools across the country.

With one in give children unable to swim a length by the time they leave Primary School, the new partnership will help teach children a vital life skill as well as improving fitness.

Pools 4 Schools is the brainchild of Total Swimming’s Chief Executive, former British Swimming Captain and Athens Olympic Bronze medallist, Steve Parry.  The programme provides temporary pools and swimming opportunities in areas of ‘aquatic deprivation’ across the UK.  The pool remains in place for six weeks with local school children taking part in a course of six lessons.

Today’s backing by British Gas will help ensure a 40% increase in the number of temporary pools and the total hours which the pools can devote to community use.  This builds upon primary funding from Department Children School and Families (DCSF), delivered in conjunction with the ASA, and additional funds from groups of local partners. 

Steve Parry, Duncan Goodhew and Rebecca Adlington (centre) celebrate the British Gas support for Pools 4 Schools

British Gas’ support for Pools 4 Schools underpins its overall sponsorship of British Swimming and the home countries, announced on March 12, and demonstrates its ambition to contribute to all levels of swimming from the paddling pool to the podium.  Pools 4 Schools was established in 2007 and has already benefited thousands of young children who, as a result of the programme have learned to swim, or more importantly, overcome aquaphobia.

World record holder, Rebecca Adlington, was accompanied at the launch at Preston Park Primary School, Wembley by fellow Olympic Gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew, as well as Steve Parry and Total Swimming Director Adi Turner.  Rebecca met some of the 500 school children from Preston Park School and other schools from Brent who will be benefiting from the Pools 4 Schools programme.

Rebecca Adlington said, 'Getting kids swimming is so important. The British Gas Pools 4 Schools programme enables more kids to get in the water and get some coaching even in areas where they don’t normally have access to pools. British Gas' commitment to grassroots schemes like this is crucial to the future of swimming in the UK.'

Rebecca’s comments were endorsed by Rick Vlemmiks, the marketing director of British Gas:  “Our involvement with swimming in Britain is about making a difference at all levels from the paddling pool to the podium.  With too many children being unable to swim it is great that we can do our bit to help our kids learn a new and potentially life saving skill.

“Swimming pools are part of the fabric of British life and, with 12 million customers across the country, British Gas is also a core part of the nation.  We want to keep swimming at the heart of our communities and encourage greater take up of the sport.”

Chris Gibson, Kingsbury School Sports Partnership Manager said: “The results from the British Gas Pools 4 Schools programme have been tremendous, with 120 hours of curriculum swimming and over 5,500 swim visits by our primary pupils. The quality of coaching and child to coach ratio has meant that those who were unable to swim have developed confidence and improved significantly more than they would have done otherwise. The temporary pool has been a great success for the Kingsbury School Sports Partnership and we hope that this project enhances the work of the partnership within all cluster schools and shows that school sport is alive and kicking.

Steve Parry, Total Swimming’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that British Gas, a prestigious household name, is joining DCSF, DCMS, the ASA and our local partners, such as Brent.  This additional support will enable us to target even more areas of aquatic deprivation and, in each of those locations, achieve greater penetration and awareness.”

David Sparks, the Chief Executive of British Swimming and the ASA added his wholehearted support to the Total Swimming Pools 4 Schools™ programme, and expressed his delight that British Gas was adding to its existing investment in British Swimming, announced eight weeks ago, by enabling the DCSF initiative to be taken to a wider audience.

Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan said: “We want every child to be able to swim well by the time they are 11 years old and we’ve introduced a School Swimming Improvement programme, which includes ‘Top- Up’ courses specifically to target those pupils who need extra help. Since 2007 we have invested over £250,000 each year for a temporary pool to be erected in seven areas across the country. This is aimed to reach 1000 children in each location, especially those living in deprived areas, so they get the chance to learn to swim.  

“It’s great that British Gas, as sponsors of British Swimming, and our Olympic swimmers, are championing this scheme and encouraging more children and families to take up swimming.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The launch of the partnership was held on Thursday 21st May at Preston Park Primary School, Wembley, Middlesex. For further details contact:

David Last, Managing Director, Sport Intermedia, 07768 875754, info@sportintermedia.co.uk

Elliott Grady, British Gas Media Relations – 01784 878704 or 07789 579114 or e-mail Elliott.grady@centrica.com

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 the biggest investor in renewable power generation in the UK, 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. 

Nominations are now open for the Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards 2009 which celebrate some of the country’s most outstanding non-elite achievements in the pool.

Aimed at amateur swimmers, the awards recognise people of all ages and abilities as well as those responsible for providing learn to swim lessons. The awards are divided into ten clear categories and recognise achievements made through the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme. 

National winners will be invited to a special awards ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon on the 16th October 2009 where they will be able to join Britain’s top aquatic athletes in the pool before receiving their awards at a celebration dinner and disco in the evening.

Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry, who has been involved with the Kellogg’s Swimtastic Awards for many years, and will be hosting the awards event this year, said: “Kellogg’s Swimtastic is a brilliant way of recognising people who enjoy swimming and who have reached personal goals in the pool,” he said.  “Swimming has given me so much in my life and Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic is a celebration of what different people at different levels have achieved within our sport.

“Learning to swim is an important life skill and with so many people achieving Kellogg’s ASA Awards every year, Kellogg’s Swimtastic highlights some of the heart-warming, courageous and motivational stories of the people involved.”

Katie Brazier, the ASA’s Sponsorship Director, said: “The ASA organises the Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards because it is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing achievements of people across all levels and areas of our sport.

“We know there are thousands of unsung swimming stars out there and so we are looking forward to receiving lots of nominations!”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s said: “Kellogg’s have been enthusiastic sponsors and supporters of swimming for over 10 years. Swimming is a great way for the whole family to stay active and spend quality time together. These swimming awards recognise those special people who have achieved a little more than the rest of us.”

The ten categories for Kellogg’s Swimtastic 2009 are…

Young Swimmer of the Year
Disability Swimmer of the Year
Family Swim Award
Senior Swimmer Award
Fundraising Award
RLSS Life Saver of the Year
Facility Operator Award
Community Project Award
Swim School Award
Top Teacher Award

To find out more about each award and to nominate someone who deserves recognition for their achievements CLICK HERE. Nominations close on 31st August 2009.

-ENDS-

For more information contact the ASA PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@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.