The Yorkshire Coast is set to benefit from a significant financial boost aimed at improving water safety and swimming proficiency among local children, following an investment by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has awarded over £28,000 to the Swim Safe initiative operating in Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
This investment marks the first key milestone in Mayor Skaith's newly launched 'Moving Forward' campaign, which began on Friday (10 October). The funding allocated to Swim Safe is drawn from a broader £2.75 million Movement, Activity and Sport fund.
The 'Moving Forward' campaign itself aims to address regional challenges across four primary areas: Movement, Activity and Sport, Active Travel, Men’s Mental Health, and Connected to the Outdoors.
Mayor Emphasises Importance of Access
Mayor Skaith confirmed that increasing access to swimming is the "perfect first step" in the region, noting that too many people face barriers to movement.
Remarking on his personal involvement, Mayor Skaith said: “It’s ironic that I can’t swim but my first investment under Moving Forward is into Swim Safe”. He further stated his desire for as many people as possible to have the same opportunity that he experienced when sport changed his life.
He asserted that by teaching children fundamental swimming skills and encouraging water safety, "we can open the door to a whole new type of movement and allow them to spend time in our beautiful blue spaces". The Mayor concluded that "Moving Forward is about backing people across York and North Yorkshire to build the healthy and thriving communities they deserve, and investing in projects like Swim Safe is an excellent way to do it”.
Expanding the Reach of Safety Sessions
The 'Swim Safe on the coast project' is run by Everyone Active and focuses on providing essential water and swim safety sessions. The new funding is expected to enable more than 200 eligible children who possess little to no swim experience to access 12 weeks of lessons, ensuring they become safer and more confident around water.
Martin Russell, Activity and Wellbeing Manager at Everyone Active, welcomed the news, stating that "This funding means we can reach even more families and children who wouldn’t usually be able to access water safety courses".
Mr. Russell highlighted the ongoing need for such programmes in the wake of the pandemic, noting that swimming proficiency had dropped after Covid. He confirmed that while levels are now starting to rise, the project is actively "trying to make a bigger dent in those statistics and make sure no young person is left without basic water safety". By ensuring both young people and their guardians are safe in the water, the programme provides them with the chance to swim both indoors and outdoors.
The administration of the overall Movement, Activity and Sport fund is a collaboration between the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and North Yorkshire Sport. The fund is currently open for applications at https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/mas-fund/
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