As the Chair of the All-Party Group on Swimming, it was good to launch the Swim United report with Speedos on innovative ways to stem the decline in school swimming in Parliament yesterday.

I’m extremely concerned that we’re seeing a fall in the number of children leaving primary school able to swim 25m or self rescue despite being part of the school curriculum.  That’s at the same time as we’re seeing a rise in childhood drowning.

Swimming is a vital life safety skill, as well as being important for physical and mental health.  It’s important that children leave primary school with these skills, but with more and more pools closing down and schools facing significant financial challenges as a result of 14 years of Conservative Governments this is becoming ever harder.

I will keep doing everything I can in Parliament to make the case.  Find out more about the swim united campaign here: Swim United campaign aims to ensure children leave school able to swim (swimming.org)