Public swimming pools across the UK are under threat from high energy costs, soaring operating costs and continual annual reductions in local authority funding. Half of community pools in the UK face closure or cuts amid crippling energy costs. 17,000 people are employed in pools at risk and their closure would be a catastrophic blow to the nation’s health and wellbeing. Full news story.
More than ONE Million children learn to swim on the Swim England Swim Programme every year, meaning the loss of a vital lifeskill for a generation of young people.
Accessibly priced healthy exercise for those unable to pay the cost of private club entry, during a cost of living crisis.
An irreparable blow to elite sporting development in the future, losing us our medal-winners of the future.
A route to better public health when our mental and physical health has been under pressure from COVID and declining cost of living.
In Wales 500,000 adults and children swim each week.
“This is make-or-break time for an alarming number of swimming pools across the UK. It’s madness that the Government doesn’t seem able to see the danger they are in.
“Without pools and leisure centres being classed as vulnerable, the astronomical energy price hikes their operators face will sadly be the final fatal blow for many.
“It’s obvious that we cannot afford for communities to be robbed of swimming pools. People have never needed help with their health and wellbeing more. Yet, without political and financial support, they are going to have fewer places than ever to do that.
“I’ve seen thousands of children learn to swim in their local pools. If there aren’t the places to teach these life-improving – lifesaving – skills they will be lost for a generation.”
We are part of a coalition of more than 200 bodies and individuals from the worlds of health, sport, recreation, and leisure that have written to the Prime Minister with an urgent plea for greater support for grassroots facilities and clubs amid the ongoing energy crisis.
With energy costs relief for the UK’s swimming pools, leisure centres, community facilities, and gyms ending on 31 March, thousands of facilities and clubs are at risk of permanent closure or reduced services, as public and private sector organisations of all sizes face unprecedented financial challenges, with bills remaining up to 200% higher than normal. Read the full letter.
Explain why you love swimming, how it helps you achieve your goals and how’s it may have changed your life for the better.
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Get the latest news on the Save Our Pools Campaign
We’re part of a group of national bodies calling for action!
Find out more from
If you want to talk to us about this campaign, offer your support or even tell us we’ve made a mistake please do get in touch by:
Email – [email protected]
Telephone – 020 7250 8263
Twitter – @CommLeisureUK
Following the Big Swim Day, we will be updating download material for the next phase of our Save Our Pools campaign soon.
Thank YOU to everyone who took part in the first ever Big Swim Day on Friday 24th February 2023. The day was a chance for everyone to share their passion for a plunge at their local pool and showcase just why we love to swim. It was a huge success with a lot of media interest and people sharing their stories on social media using the hashtags #BigSwimDay and #SaveOurPools. Big Swim Day was trending on Twitter for almost eight hours on the day with regional news and radio covering the story in the build up and on the day. The hope is that our collective voice and sharing on social was seen by politicians and policy makers and encouraged them to support pools financially. Find out more.
