Prince William and Princess Kate have made a major announcement regarding a cause close to their heart. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s Royal Foundation has now partnered up with Olympic gold medallist Tom Dean’s swim school, which has already enabled 200 children to benefit from learn-to-swim packages in underserved areas, with more due to be rolled out across the year.
William and Kate are both big fans of swimming and swimming sports in general, with the heir being an avid water polo player during his younger years and the future Queen being into cold swimming. The Prince of Wales is patron of Swim England and the English Schools Swimming Association, as well as president of the British Sub-Aqua Club. The initiative will allow around 1,000 young people who would not otherwise have access to swimming lessons to receive a package of 10 – 12 sessions each, which will help to break down the barriers that prevent them from gaining swimming as a life skill.
The Tom Dean Swim School, alongside personally selected certified instructors from independent swim schools across the country, will deliver the packages, which focus on the fundamentals of learning to swim and being safe in the water.
They will be provided in towns and cities across the country, from Birtley to Devon, Hull and Birmingham, with more lessons to be delivered throughout the school year.
In total, packages will be provided to Aston in Birmingham, Birtley, Exmouth in Devon, Hull, Maidenhead, Sunderland, Warrington, Windsor and York.
It comes as drowning deaths in the UK more than doubled from 20 in 2019/2020 to 41 in 2022/2023, according to the National Child Mortality Database.
A report from Swim England from May 2021 showed that, although swimming, almost one in three children in the UK currently leave primary education unable to swim.
William and Kate’s Foundation said in a statement: “Ensuring access to community pools offer children more than just a place to swim – they provide an opportunity to learn life-saving skills, stay active and connect with others in a safe, supportive setting. These resources are especially vital in underserved areas.”
Tom Dean said: “Every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and understand water safety. Swimming is a vital life skill that builds resilience, fosters social connection and keeps young people safe when they are in and around water.
“This partnership with The Royal Foundation is supporting so many young people, up and down the UK, to find a pool near to them and dive in. Let’s get kids swimming, wherever they live.”
The Royal Foundation’s Melanie Waters said: “This new partnership between The Royal Foundation and the Tom Dean MBE Swim School is an important next step, as we encourage everyone – parents, teachers and kids – to see the benefits of learning to swim.”