Overview

• Nine million British adults lack basic swimming skills due to school curriculum gaps and over 100 pool closures in two decades.
• easyJet Holidays, Olympic champion Tom Dean, Better and the Royal Life Saving Society UK have launched a Swim School offering 1,000 free lessons to adults nationwide.
• The initiative has released 250 six-lesson slots each week for four weeks via the easyJet Holidays website, with bookings open from June 30.
• Research shows 35% of non-swimmers are keen to learn, though many report feelings of vulnerability, embarrassment and low confidence in the water.
• Dean is urging Parliament to secure sustained water safety education and improved access to local pools to protect children and future learners.