The UK Government has welcomed the latest official data that shows that there were 5.9 million free swims during the second quarter of its £140m free swimming initiative, covering July, August and September 2009 – up from 4.5 million in the first quarter since the scheme began in April.
This consists of 4 million free swims by people aged 16 and under, and 1.9m by over sixties, up from 2.9m and 1.6m respectively.
Reacting to the figures, Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
“This is a terrific vote of confidence in our free swimming initiative, which has really caught the imagination of people in every corner of the country.
“More than ten million free swims so far – 5.9m in the last quarter, including a hugely successful August – is testament to how this scheme is tapping into a desire among people, young and old, to get active.
“This scheme is part of the 2012 ‘dividend’ – a scheme inspired by our success in winning the right to stage the Olympics and Paralympics – and is going from strength to strength.
“More councils are joining up and offering more people the chance to swim for free – and each and every local authority that is part of the scheme deserves credit for backing it, often with their own money as well, and seeing the benefits that free swimming can provide every day for local communities.”
The initiative is jointly funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
It is being delivered in conjunction with local authorities, the Local Government Association, the ASA and Sport England, and more detail (including full statistical data for the second quarter) can be found at the DCMS website.