Swimming in Scotland: How important is it really?

As someone who grew up on the outskirts of Glasgow and loved being involved in the sport of swimming and being able to experience various benefits, as per my last posts, the recent calls for budget cuts in community leisure centres and the uncertainty regarding wether several of them will remain open has deeply saddened me.    In recent years, there has been many conversations around the closure of swimming pools in Scotland. If we take a look at the proposed closures by North Lanarkshire Council, there were 4 pools outlined in a 2023 report which were at risk of permanent closure, which would impact many workers jobs and social life activities. Scottish Swimming issued a statement on the matter whereby several members of the community, conveyed their sense of extreme disappointment about the news and exclaimed the urgency that these pools must remain open. Particularly due to the fact the UK is an “island nation” and is crucially important that people must learn to swim as ...

Ever since I can remember I have pestered my parents at any given chance to take me to the pool, I just always loved being in the water. It was then a clear indication was given that enrolling me in swimming lessons would be an obvious choice to further my passion as well as improve on my existing skills and abilities.    Going to swimming lessons was a key part of my childhood and I still have so many fond memories of them to date. Even though it was only for half an hour once a week, it was just enough to keep me healthy and active for around five years. From this experience I was able to form a close bond with my instructors and make lots of new friends who I got to progress through lessons with.    From this point on and having my interests and passion nurtured in the sport, I was even more keen to keep it up. I joined a local swimming club where I learned many of the social benefits that swimming can bring you. At this point I was training 3 or 4 times a week, s...

  It goes without saying that the sport of swimming is relatively unfamiliar territory for many people, by which they have only a basic capability of keeping themselves alive in the water or have never learned to swim at all which is absolutely crazy! I grew up being fortunate enough to be taken on holidays abroad throughout my childhood to soak up some sun where I quickly became accustomed to the simple solution for cooling down - jumping straight in the swimming pool! It was from those moments where I realised that I loved being in the water and was determined to learn how to swim.   Myself, my cousin and my sister enjoying time spent in the pool in Spain! (I no longer need armbands…) While I have fond memories of being in the pool for hours on end on holiday, it wasn’t until recently when I realised that much of the closest company I keep actually can’t swim. This occurred to me on a boat in Greece one year ago while on holiday with some friends. I had jumped off the...