Swimming is known to have one of the highest amounts of health benefits compared to any other form of physical activity. The low impact water-based activity, like other ways of getting active, helps increase muscle function and increases cardiovascular endurance. However, swimming is unique in the impact that it has on your body. Moving in the water allows you to increase your heart rate without being too physically taxing, making it perfect for people with long term health conditions and muscular diseases as well as being perfect for those recovering from injury.
Despite the numerous health benefits attached to swimming, new Sport England findings suggest that 96.5% of Black adults and 81.8% of Black children do not swim even though 64% of black people in Essex are considered active. Through our work with the Port of London Authority and their Active Thames funding, Active Essex are working with the Black Swimming Association (BSA) to break down the barriers to participation of swimming, raise awareness of water safety and drowning prevention and help improve the diversity of participation for underrepresented groups which is one of Active Thames’ priorities for the funding.
Receiving the largest grant of the 2023/24 fund, The Active Southend-on-Thames project is a new multi agency approach raising participation levels of Southend’s residents on or near the water’s edge. The project is multifaceted, tackling the inequalities that prevent local people from accessing the water for safe physical activity.
Alongside this work, BSA is conducting a ground-breaking research project with the RNLI and the University of Portsmouth. The project aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding ethnically diverse communities, water safety and floating.
Professor Mike Tipton, MBE is leading this water-based research and is analysing the physiological reasons that are widely believed to prevent people of African, Caribbean, and Asian heritage from being proficient swimmers, whilst teaching participants about floatability.
This research is working alongside the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) FLOAT to Live safety campaign, which is encouraging anyone in trouble when in the water to relax and lean back in the shape of a starfish to regain control of their breathing. A training consortium has been brought together in support, with representatives from RNLI, the School Sport Partnership (SSP) and Southend HAF to aid the delivery of this.
RNLI, alongside other community partners, as part of the Active Thames project will support the upskilling of the community in educational programmes to highlight the importance of water safety and the many benefits of water activities. This will help children and young people gain insight in how to be safer when in the water. SSP will recruit and train role models from underrepresented groups who can inspire individuals to get into water activities. Essex County Council will provide Essex Coastal Explorer Activity booklets to be utilised in schools and as outreach resources, engaging residents in blue spaces.
“We’re thrilled that as a consortium, we can play a part in combatting some of the myths around swimming and improve people’s knowledge on how to stay safe in the water. The Active Southend-on-Thames programme is focused on reducing inequalities and equipping people with the right knowledge and training plays a huge part in supporting more people to get into the water.
The work being done in partnership with the RNLI and the Black Swimming Association is a shining example of how partnerships and collaboration can expand reach and make a bigger impact on removing barriers that many of our resident’s face.”
Jamie Langstone, Sector and Partnership Manager, SAVS
We are delighted to be expanding our vital work of water safety and drowning prevention by teaming up with Active Essex. The more people we can get into the water safely and confidently the better, and having the support and backing of Active Essex brings us that much closer to our goal. Everyone deserves to know how to be safe in and around water – and that includes the residents of Essex county.
Seren Jones – co founder of BSA
