Support Big Swim Day!
The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) urges as many people as possible to take part in and support Big Swim Day on Friday 24 February.
Led by our strategic partners Community Leisure UK (CLUK), it’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone to demonstrate support for their local community pool. At a time when they are under threat like never before, local people can send a message by enjoying a healthy swim at any time on Friday 24 February.
The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate the level of local public support for swimming pools and other public leisure and cultural facilities at a time of unprecedented pressure.
The Government’s recent decision to massively scale back financial support for pools to cover their energy costs have placed many of them at risk of closure, as costs have spiralled out of control. Swimming pools are particularly dependent on energy use, both in maintaining the ambient temperature in the facility and in heating the pool water to the right temperature for leisure use.
The rise in energy costs has come on top of financial challenges arising out of closure during the period of the COVID pandemic, as well as continuing public expenditure constraints over many years.
WSA CEO, Andrew Howard, commented:
“Big Swim Day is the ideal opportunity for local people to show support for local community pools and other facilities that currently face unprecedented financial challenges, and while doing so have a great time and build mental health and physical wellbeing.
“Sport and leisure play a significant role in the wellbeing of society and, with the sector coming under such severe pressure at the moment, this is a brilliant opportunity to show what these local hubs and physical activity providers mean to communities across the country.
“I will be showing my support to the campaign with my wife and two children by enjoying a family swim at our local leisure centre in Llanishen on Big Swim Day.”
You can also demonstrate your support for this campaign by engaging digitally!
Don’t forget to shout across social media platforms using #bigswimday and #saveourpools throughout the coming week and especially on Friday 24 February!
Find out more about the Save Our Pools Campaign at saveourpools.org.
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