We are reporting our highest number of participants in our aquatic programme, bouncing back from COVID closures by being Scotland’s biggest provider of swimming lessons.

We now have over 8,000 participants in our Learn to Swim programme – the figure includes those enrolled at the trust’s facilities as well five Fife Council community-use pools. The Learn to Swim programme is delivered in partnership with Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming, the national governing body for swimming.

The programme offers people of all ages, from babies to older adults, to get in the water and progress seamlessly through class levels, either building confidence, becoming a competent swimmer, progressing onto club level or learning new disciplines like water polo or Rookie Lifeguard training.

In addition, children benefit from a membership scheme which allows them free recreational swimming in any of trust swimming pools as long as they are enrolled in the Learn to Swim programme.

We have 7, 075 participants at our pools – 4.04 per cent up on its performance target and our community programme delivered at Balwearie High School, Inverkeithing High School, Glenwood High School, Lochgelly High School and Woodmill High School means that overall, the trust is 0.48 per cent above its overall strategy target.

Lee Cunningham, aquatics manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “The success of the Learn to Swim programme, particularly considering the pandemic and associated lockdowns and restrictions is a fantastic reflection on the quality of the programme and the staff delivering it.

“Since launching the Learn to Swim programme in partnership with Scottish Swimming in 2016, we have seen a steady and consistent increase in participation levels. And I’m really pleased that Fife is leading the way nationally in engaging more people to learn a lifesaving skill and to improve their aquatic skills.”

Click here further details on the Learn to Swim programme.