Swim Design Space Blog

The Swimming Crisis: Why Millions of UK Adults & Kids Still Can’t Swim

For a country surrounded by water and celebrated for Olympic swimming champions, the UK faces a sobering truth: millions of people never learned how to swim.In fact, roughly1 in 3 British adults, about 14 million people cannot swim even one 25-metre length. And children are struggling too: nearly 1 in 3 children leave primary school unable to swim, up from 1 in 4 just a year prior. Without intervention, projections warn this could worsen to 6 in 10 in coming years. This widespread lack of swimming ability, often called a “swimming crisis”carries serious implications for safety, health, and quality of life across all demographics.

Why Does It Matter if You Can’t Swim?

Being unable to swim isn’t just about missing out on a fun activity, it’s a genuine public safety concern and a barrier to personal confidence. Here’s why this crisis deserves attention:

In short, having a nation where millions can’t swim isn’t just embarrassing, it’s dangerous. So how did we get here?

What’s Behind the UK’s Swimming Gap?

Multiple factors social, economic, and cultural have contributed to the swimming crisis. Understanding them is the first step to fixing the problem.

  1. Fewer Pools and Budget Pressures

One glaring issue is access: it’s hard to learn or practice swimming without pools. Unfortunately, the UK has been losing swimming pools at an alarming rate. More than 400 pools have closed since 2010. These closures hit disadvantaged areas hardest council districts with the highest deprivation saw a 14% drop in pool facilities, more than double the decline in affluent areas. Why are pools closing? Many were built decades ago and are costly to maintain; recent energy price spikes have made heating pools exorbitantly expensive. While the government offered a one-off £63 million lifeline to help with energy bills, much of the UK’s pool infrastructure remains in need of urgent investment.

Compounding this, public funding for leisure has tightened. Most leisure centres are privately run or run by trusts, often without ongoing government subsidies. When local councils face budget cuts, pools (which are expensive to heat, staff, and insure) are often on the chopping block. Fewer public pools mean fewer places for school classes or affordable community lessons. Rural communities and poorer towns feel it most, sometimes lacking any nearby pool at all after closures.

  1. Pandemic Disruption

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major setback to swimming skills. During lockdowns, school swimming lessons and public swims were halted for many months. This gap caused many kids (and adults) to lose hard-won progress. Swimming skills are perishable, they need consistent practice. After long lockdown pauses, confidence plunged and techniques deteriorated. Instructors report that many children essentially had to restart their learning once pools reopened. For some adults who were casual swimmers, the long break made them anxious about returning to the water. Even now, a few years on, overall youth swimming activity remains 5-6% below pre-pandemic levels, according to Sport England. The pandemic didn’t start the swimming crisis, but it certainly made it worse by interrupting the pipeline of new swimmers.

  1. Inconsistent School Provision

Ideally, every child would learn to swim through school. In England, the national curriculum requires that by age 11 (end of primary school) children should swim 25m and know basic water safety. In practice, this mandate is not being met for about 28% of kids. Schools face many hurdles in delivering swim lessons: arranging pool time and transportation, finding qualified instructors, and covering costs. Some primary schools do an excellent job, with weekly swim classes in certain years. Others struggle or provide no swimming at all. Shockingly, **40% of children who can’t swim have never even been offered lessons by their school. That means entire cohorts are missing out simply because of where they go to school.

Funding is part of the challenge. Schools receive PE and Sport Premium funding, a portion of which can go to swimming, but it’s up to each school how to spend it. Many have tight budgets and competing priorities. It’s not uncommon for schools to ask parents to contribute for swim lessons or bus fees. In lower-income areas, schools and families may simply not be able to afford regular sessions. The result is a postcode lottery: some kids get years of instruction, others get virtually none. This inconsistency directly translates into skill gaps.

  1. Socioeconomic Inequalities

Where you live and your family’s resources significantly affect your chances of learning to swim. There is a stark class divide in swimming proficiency. In the most deprived parts of the country, only about 45% of children can swim 25m by the end of primary; in the least deprived areas, 76% can. Another way to see it: a child from a lower-income family is far more likely to become one of the “can’t swim” statistics. By Year 6 (ages 10–11), almost half of kids from low-income families can’t swim unaided, compared to 25% from higher-income families. These gaps reflect access and opportunity more than ability. Affluent parents are not only able to pay for extra lessons if needed, but they’re also more likely to have been taught to swim themselves, and thus prioritize passing it on. In communities where parents never learned, the cycle often repeats with the next generation.

This isn’t just about money for lessons; it’s also about time and transport. Working single parents may struggle to get a child to the pool on weekends. Families without a car may find the nearest pool is too far. When swimming relies on private lessons or club membership, it effectively becomes a luxury some cannot afford. That’s why experts worry that a two-tier system is emerging: those who can pay get proficient kids; those who can’t are left behind.

  1. Cultural and Demographic Factors

Swimming participation also varies by community and background. For some ethnic minority communities in the UK, swimming has not historically been part of the culture – and statistics reflect that legacy. As of 2022, an astonishing 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children in England do not swim regularly. This doesn’t mean every individual among them cannot swim, but it indicates extremely low participation and, by extension, many lacking strong swimming ability. Long-standing myths (like false ideas about body density), a lack of representation in elite swimming, and even historical discrimination (such as past segregation of pools) have created generational reluctance. Similarly, communities from parts of the world where swimming isn’t commonly taught may not prioritize it here unless opportunities are actively offered.

The result is that who you are can shape your swim journey. If you grow up rarely seeing people like yourself in the water or hearing “people like us don’t swim,” it reinforces non-participation. These cultural barriers are gradually being challenged by initiatives like the Black Swimming Association and Swim England’s inclusion campaigns, but there is a long way to go to close this gap. It underscores that the swimming crisis isn’t uniform, it hits some groups much harder than others.

  1. Fear, Stigma, and the Adult Learner

What about those millions of adults who never learned? Many factors that stopped them in childhood (cost, access, fear) persisted into adulthood. By the time someone is in their 20s, 30s, or beyond, not knowing how to swim often comes with a sense of embarrassment or anxiety. Some adults carry deep fear of water from negative experiences as kids or simply the unknown. Others might feel it’s “too late” or worry they’ll look foolish learning as an adult. As one new swimmer put it, “I had an internal stigma... I was really worried what people might think of me and why I have not been able to swim up until now”. This kind of self-consciousness can be a huge barrier, it takes courage to show up at a pool as a beginner when you’re the only adult in the shallow end clinging to a kick-board.

Moreover, adult life responsibilities can make it hard to start lessons. Busy jobs, family duties, and lack of time or energy all play a role. Unlike children, who often have swim lessons built into school or scheduled by parents, adults have to seek out and prioritize learning on their own. If they never had a chance as kids, there’s no automatic trigger to start later, unless a scare or a strong motivation (like a parent wanting to keep up with their water-loving child) pushes them. The #LoveSwimming campaign by Swim England highlighted inspiring stories of adults who overcame their fears and learned later in life. Such stories show it can be done, but first we must normalize that it’s OK not to know, and it’s never too late to learn.

  1. Stopping Lessons Too Early

On the flip side, many children do start swimming but drop out before they’re truly competent. This is a hidden contributor to the crisis. Swim England research found 96% of kids quit lessons before achieving essential skills like 100m continuous swimming and treading water for 30 seconds. Often, parents pull kids out once they seem “water confident” (able to play in the pool) but before they’ve developed survival skills. It’s an easy mistake, swimming lessons can feel repetitive or costly, and once a child enjoys splashing around, parents assume they’ll “swim fine.” But being unafraid of water is not the same as being able to handle an unexpected current or long drop into deep water. Competence requires consistent training and exposure to different scenarios (like swimming in clothes or in open water conditions).

Other parents withdraw kids because of busy schedules or the belief that school lessons are enough. The result is many children plateau at a doggy-paddle level of ability. They might not drown immediately if they fall in water, but they also might not know how to float to live until help comes. This premature stop in lessons is why organisations now urge: keep kids in lessons until they are truly competent swimmers, not just comfortable in water. Otherwise, we are sending half-taught swimmers out into the world, which can be more dangerous than not teaching them at all, since overconfidence without skill breeds risk.

All these factors interweave to create the current crisis. Pool closures and cost barriers hit the poorest communities hardest. The pandemic erased progress. Gaps in school provision leave many with no foundation. Cultural narratives cause entire groups to miss out. And even those who start learning might stop too soon. The result: millions of adults and children across the UK who can’t swim confidently or at all.

But it’s not a hopeless situation. In fact, swimming is a skill that can be learned at any age with the right approach. Turning this tide will require action from many angles, from government investment to community outreach, but it also happens one person at a time, when you or your child decide to start (or resume) learning. So, what can be done to fix the swimming gap?

Turning the Tide: How We Can Get Britain Swimming

The good news is that no one is “too far gone” to learn to swim. Swimming is a skill, not an innate talent, and with patience and support any willing child or adult can master the basics. Addressing the national crisis starts with individual action. Here are some practical steps and solutions for various ages:

  1. Start (and Stay) in Lessons

There is no substitute for quality instruction. Professional lessons, whether through school, community programs, or private swim schools, provide structure, safety and progression. If you’re a parent, enroll your kids in lessons early and keep them going consistently. Don’t wait until they’re “old enough to ask”; babies as young as a few months can start parent-and-child water classes, and toddlers can learn water safety skills in a playful setting. If your child’s school offers swimming, great but be ready to supplement if needed. Many parents assume school lessons alone will do the job, but with limited sessions and large class sizes, that’s often not enough to reach 25m proficiency. Consider booking additional classes during school holidays or weekends to reinforce skills.The key is not to quit too soon. Even once your child can doggy-paddle, continue until they can formally swim multiple strokes and self-rescue. It might take a couple of years of regular lessons, but those are years that could save their life.

For adults who can’t swim, bravely take that first step and sign up for a beginner class. It’s never too late. Adult classes are typically very welcoming and tailored for nervous beginners.you might be surprised how many classmates share the same fears. Instructors use gentle techniques to build comfort, like starting in the shallow end and using flotation supports. Many adult learners say the hardest part was walking through the facility door the first time; after that, it gets easier each session. If group classes feel intimidating, you can opt for private lessons for more individual attention. The important thing is to start. Progress might feel slow, but celebrate each small win, perhaps your first time submerging your face or floating without support.

Tip:When you’re ready, you can easily book now with Swim Design Space and let our experienced instructors guide you. (We offer sessions for all ages, including complete beginners!)

  1. Make Practice Fun and Consistent

As with any skill, practice between lessons cements progress. Make time for casual, unpressured practice in the water. For families, a weekly trip to the pool for free play can work wonders. Let kids explore at their own pace: play games like “treasure hunt” by diving for toys, challenge them to do “big kicks” while holding the wall, or count how many bubbles they can blow underwater. Keep it light and positive, these playful swims build water comfort and reinforce what they learn in class, without the formal structure.

A great way to motivate kids is through water toys and challenges. For example, using a light-up diving game like the WellyWeight dive challenge can encourage kids to dive underwater to retrieve a glowing object, turning skill practice into play. Other swim toys, like foam “Floatie Friends”(cute animal-shaped floats), give hesitant young swimmers something fun to hold onto as they venture away from the pool edge. These tools make the pool a place of adventure rather than fear. As confidence grows, kids will naturally push themselves to try new skills (going a bit deeper, swimming a bit farther) all in the name of play.

Adults can make practice enjoyable too. If you have a friend or partner, go during a quiet adult swim session and practice together. Work on simple goals: today, float for 5 seconds, or do 2 laps with a kick-board. Celebrate progress (maybe reward yourself with a nice coffee or smoothie after the pool). Consistency is key, swimming once a week or more will keep building your confidence. The more time you spend in water, the more it starts to feel like a friend rather than a foe.

  1. Equip for Success (Gear Matters!)

The right swim gear can dramatically improve a beginner’s experience. Two absolute essentials are goggles and a swim cap. Goggles protect the eyes from chlorine and allow you to see underwater, this is crucial for newcomers, since burning eyes or fear of not seeing can scare someone out of the water. A well-fitted pair of swim goggles helps swimmers (especially kids) keep their eyes in the water and maintain proper head position, rather than instinctively lifting the head (which causes the body to sink). Likewise, a swim cap (latex or silicone) keeps hair out of the face and helps with comfort and visibility. For children, fun caps with bright colors or even ones shaped like animals (sharks, mermaids, etc.) can make them excited to put it on. Check out some of our colorful swim caps in store, a small investment in a cap and pair of goggles can pay off in smoother lessons.

Beyond the basics, there are fantastic training aids that can accelerate learning (for both kids and adults).Swim fins are one example, wearing fins on the feet adds propulsion and lift, which helps new swimmers move more easily and feel what it’s like to glide forward. This builds confidence (it’s so fun to zoom with fins!) and strengthens kicking muscles. Short “training fins” like the FINIS Positive Drive Fins are popular for beginners to develop a strong, efficient kick. Similarly, a front-mounted snorkel can be a game-changer for learners who struggle with breathing coordination. By using a snorkel, you can keep your face in the water and breathe steadily without worrying about turning your head to gasp for air – this lets you focus on mastering your kick and arm strokes first. We often use training snorkels in our classes for adults who are refining their freestyle technique or anyone who panics when trying to breathe to the side.

For those looking to improve stroke technique, agility paddles (small hand paddles without straps) are a clever tool. They attach to your hands and will only stay on if your stroke form is correct, drop your elbow or pull the wrong way, and they’ll slip off, giving immediate feedback. Many swimmers find paddles helpful for developing a better feel of the water (and they strengthen the arms too). Another fun gadget is the FINIS Hydro Hip, a belt with fins attached at the hips that helps you practice proper hip rotation in strokes, great for more advanced learners who want to get that smooth rotation in freestyle or backstroke. And to build an even steadier rhythm, a Tempo Trainer (an underwater metronome that beeps) can be placed under your cap to help you maintain consistent stroke timing. Even a simple waterproof stopwatch can be motivating, time your laps or set small goals (“I’ll tread water for 30 seconds”).

None of these gadgets are “magic,” but they add variety and targeted practice, keeping learners engaged. More importantly, having some gear of your own, be it fins, a snorkel, or even just your personal goggles and cap, makes you feel like a swimmer. It’s a psychological boost. If you’re curious, you can explore our selection of training aids like swim fins, snorkels, paddles, and more in our shop (we’ve curated beginner-friendly gear from brands like FINIS). The right equipment can turn frustration into “aha!” moments.

  1. Tackle Fear Gradually

For anyone, child or adult, dealing with water anxiety, a slow-and-steady approach is vital. In our Swim Design Space lessons, instructors focus first on water confidence before technique. If you (or your child) fear water, the initial goal isn’t mastering front crawl; it’s simply becoming comfortable in and underwater. This might mean spending sessions practicing how to float calmly, how to blow bubbles out of your nose (to avoid inhaling water), and how to stand back up from floating. We use games and gentle exercises to build these skills. A common one is having learners hold the poolside, take a deep breath, submerge their face, and blow bubbles for a few seconds then come up and smile. Repeating this until the smile is genuine is a milestone! Water fear often stems from the body’s natural panic when water hits the face or when you feel buoyancy for the first time. By repeating these sensations in a controlled, supportive environment, your brain learns that it’s okay the panic response diminishes over time.

If panic hits, we teach swimmers to roll onto their back and float (the “star float” or “float to live” technique) as a safety maneuver. Knowing you can always float on your back can greatly reduce fear, because it’s a fallback if you ever get too tired or anxious. Parents of young kids can practice back floating at home in the bathtub or during pool play support the child’s head and let them feel the water hold them up. Gradually reduce support as they relax. This skill saves lives and builds confidence in anyone fearful of deep water.

For adults specifically, overcoming the mental block is as important as the physical skill. Don’t hesitate to communicate with your instructor about your fears a good teacher will never force you beyond your comfort zone until you’re ready. Progress might be as small as moving from clinging to the wall to moving an arm’s length away. That is still progress! By celebrating each step and not comparing yourself to others, you’ll gradually expand your comfort zone. Many adult learners find that once they can float and put their face in water, a big psychological corner is turned. From there on, actual swimming strokes start to fall into place faster than you’d expect.

  1. Community Support and Advocacy

While individual effort is crucial, broader support makes a huge difference. If you’re a parent, talk to your child’s school about their swimming program. Knowing that 72% of children meet national swim criteria by age 11 means nearly 28% do not ask how your school is helping that 28%. If provision is lacking, consider rallying other parents to push for more lessons or seeking local grants (some areas have charitable funds for school swimming). On a community level, keep an eye on local pools if there’s news of a pool closure or cuts to hours, use your voice. Write to your council or MP, sign petitions, or support campaigns to save community pools. Each pool kept open is countless future swimmers saved.

There are also fantastic initiatives worth getting involved in Drowning Prevention Week each June raises awareness about water safety participating in its events or sharing its messages on social media helps spread the word. Charities like the RLSS UK and Swim England often look for volunteers to assist with learn-to-swim programs or to be water safety ambassadors in schools. If you’re passionate, you can become a swim mentor or volunteer assisting instructors sometimes community centers run programs for adult learners from specific backgrounds (for example, sessions for women in culturally conservative communities who might need a female-only environment). Helping out not only contributes to solving the crisis but can be personally rewarding.

Lastly, representation matters. Celebrate and share stories of new swimmers like the 43-year-old mum who learned to swim so she could save her child if needed, or the communities of people of colour coming together to debunk the myth that “we don’t swim.” The more these stories circulate, the more others will think, “If they did it, maybe I can too.” Changing a culture can start with just a few people inspiring a few more.

  1. Find the Right Class for You

No matter your age or background, the environment in which you learn to swim makes a huge difference. A supportive, well-structured class can fast-track your progress and make the journey enjoyable. Look for programs or instructors that have experience with your needs – whether it’s toddler classes that emphasize fun and safety, or adult classes specifically for fearful beginners. Smaller class sizes can be beneficial, as students get more individual attention. (We keep low ratios in our Swim Design Space classes to ensure everyone receives guidance and encouragement.)

It’s also important to learn in a convenient location – somewhere you’ll be able to attend regularly without it feeling like a burden. If you’re in the Gloucestershire area, for example, Swim Design Space offers lessons at several easily accessible venues. You can join classes at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, enjoy the modern pool at Everlast Fitness in Gloucester, swim at Everlast Gym in central Cheltenham, or even attend our sessions at the rural Etloe House Farms pool in Blakeney. We’ve also partnered with Sir Thomas Rich’s School in Gloucester to host lessons. With multiple locations, we aim to bring swim instruction closer to you. Simply choose the site most convenient for you and book a class to get started! (All our locations can be booked through our central system just pick the venue and time that suits you.)

Each of our classes, regardless of location, maintains the same high teaching standards and friendly atmosphere. We understand that walking into that first lesson can be nerve-wracking for a non-swimmer, so we strive to make our pools a judgment-free zone. Our instructors are not drill sergeants, they’re more like cheerleaders and guides. Whether you’re an adult who finally decided to conquer the water, or a parent bringing your child who isn’t progressing in school lessons, we welcome you with open arms. Many of our most successful adult learners started out saying “I’m terrified of water” today they swim lengths confidently. The transformation is possible for you too.

Closing Thoughts: A Swim Journey for Everyone

The “swimming crisis” in the UK is real, but it doesn’t have to remain our reality. The fact that millions can’t swim is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity an opportunity to improve public safety, to boost health and wellbeing, and to bring communities together through a shared life skill. Every person who learns to swim, at any age, contributes to solving this crisis. And the ripple effects are huge: that person gains confidence and safety, inspires their friends or family, and maybe one day teaches their own children.

If you or your child are among those who haven’t learned yet, know that you’re not alone and it’s absolutely possible to change. Today’s the day to take the first step. That might mean having an open conversation about your fears, signing up for a taster lesson, or simply buying a pair of goggles and visiting the local pool during a quiet hour. Picture yourself or your little one a year from now: comfortably gliding through the water, wondering why you ever waited so long. That feeling of pride when you conquer a fear or gain a new ability is like no other.

At Swim Design Space, we believe swimming is for everyone, no exceptions. Our mission is to turn non-swimmers into safe, happy swimmers, one stroke at a time. The water doesn’t care how old you are, where you come from, or what your background is. It welcomes all who are willing to learn. So let’s rise to the challenge of this crisis together. Dive in, the future is swimming!