Free swimming in Wigan : final analysis report (2008-2011)

Allen, R; Clarke-Cornwell, AM; Dugdill, L; Flannery, O; Hulme, C; Kelly, C; Wilson, PS

Abstract

In June 2008, the Labour government announced a £140 million investment in the Free Swimming Initiative (FSI). This was a cross-government intervention designed to increase participation in swimming in England leading to subsequent health and economic benefits (DCMS, 2010). It specifically targeted those aged 16 and under and those aged 60 and over.
Swimming is an ideal physical activity choice, with regular participation bestowing a range of health, wellbeing and social benefits to individuals. It is a non-weight bearing exercise and as such would be a safe and effective activity choice for a range of different groups including pregnant women, overweight and elderly people. It is a popular activity with children and is an essential life-skill as a prerequisite for safe participation in a wide range of other water-based sports and leisure activities such as surfing, rowing and canoeing. The Active People Survey shows swimming remains a very popular sport with latent demand, and getting children swimming at an early age can form the basis of habitual exercise behaviour that later tracks into adulthood.
This report provides a summary of the findings from the evaluation of the FSI across Wigan, categorised as Options 1-3, between April 2008 and December 2011

The Universities of Salford and Leeds were commissioned to evaluate
1. The impact of the universal FSI (April 2009-December 2010) (Free Swimming for all)
2. The impact of the revised Free Swimming programme (January 2011-December 2011) (targeted at 0-16 year olds during school holidays, and people aged 65 years and over)

Citation

Allen, R., Clarke-Cornwell, A., Dugdill, L., Flannery, O., Hulme, C., Kelly, C., & Wilson, P. (in press). Free swimming in Wigan : final analysis report (2008-2011)

• Report Type: Project Report
• Acceptance Date: Mar 19, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 30, 2015
• Additional Information: Projects : The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Free Swimming in Wigan Borough