Local swim teachers and providers celebrated across the country
A WEST Dunbartonshire leisure trust has been shortlisted for a national sport award following its commitment and quality in supporting children to learn to swim.
West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust is in the running to win ‘Learn to Swim Provider of the Year’ at the upcoming Scottish Swimming Annual Awards, which will take place later this month.
The Scottish Water Learn to Swim Provider of the Year Award has been running for seven years and recognises the effort of providers in creating and delivering high quality lessons, providing youngsters with essential life skills to keep safe in and around water.
The category celebrates local authorities, leisure trusts and aquatic providers who are delivering the Learn to Swim National Framework across Scotland – a partnership between Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming – with the vision to create ‘Generation Swim’, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer. There are currently around 82,000 children and adults taking part in Learn to Swim lessons across Scotland every week.
The leisure trust provides Learn to Swim lessons to over 2,200 children across four pools and has been shortlisted for its commitment and progress in quality Learn to Swim environments, helping to make an impact on Generation Swim.
Lorna Smith, Aquatics Development Officer for West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust said: “We are honoured to be a finalist for the ‘Learn to Swim Provider of the Year’ award at the Scottish Swimming Annual Awards.
“This recognition is a tremendous honour that speaks to the passion and commitment of our team in providing exceptional aquatics programmes for children across West Dunbartonshire.
“Our goal is to make quality swimming instruction accessible to all, empowering young people with the essential life skills to stay safe in and around the water. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with our peers at the awards ceremony.”
Alongside West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, Sport Aberdeen, and Edinburgh Leisure have also been recognised and shortlisted in the celebrated category – all demonstrating a profound determination to create ‘Generation Swim’, the next generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers.
Euan Lowe, CEO at Scottish Swimming said: “Each year we’re blown away by the dedication of the excellent local authorities, leisure trusts and aquatic providers that are all working towards the common goal of teaching this vital life skill across the country.
“Not only that but we’re especially fortunate to see firsthand the brilliant work that those shortlisted have put into delivering lessons at the highest level and ensuring that children are becoming safer in the water. Congratulations to West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust on being shortlisted, and for your dedication to the Framework.”
The winner of the award will receive an exclusive poolside visit from the Learn to Swim Framework ambassadors – Olympic, World & Commonwealth Champion Duncan Scott and Paralympian and World Champion Toni Shaw.
Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water said: “We’re proud to support Learn to Swim – and the Learn to Swim Provider of the Year award gives us an incredible opportunity not only to celebrate and thank everyone involved in the Learn to Swim National Framework for the good work they all do, but also recognise all of the outstanding leisure providers shortlisted.
“With their help, and hundreds of others across the country, we’re making a really positive difference in creating Generation Swim, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who not only learn a vital life skill but will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer.”
At last year’s Scottish Swimming Annual Awards, Fife Sport and Leisure was crowned Learn to Swim provider of the year for supporting over 8,000 children each week.
The annual awards ceremony will take place on 21st September at the Aberdeen Hilton TECA.
Learn to Swim is a National Framework committed to creating inclusive, supportive and quality environments in which individuals can learn to swim regardless of their age, ability, or skill level. It aims to develop confident, safer and competent swimmers, as well as encouraging individuals to adopt a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle with sport and fun at its heart to reach their full potential both in the pool and out.
For more information on the programme, visit: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim
