Leisure Provider Makes Waves with National Award Win

“We pride ourselves on being adaptable and inclusive, making sure every child, no matter their background or ability, has the chance to thrive in the water while ensuring they feel safe and confident.”

Karen Baxter
Swimming Development Mgr, East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure

An East Renfrewshire leisure provider has won a national award showcasing its exceptional dedication to developing and delivering its Learn to Swim programme for young people and adults.

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure took home the coveted title of Scottish Water Learn to Swim Provider of the Year at the Scottish Swimming Annual Awards. 

The leisure provider, which delivers swimming lessons to more than 3,950 swimmers every week, was recognised for its outstanding commitment to delivering a quality programme and creating an inclusive, supportive and community-focused environment where every child can gain confidence in the water.

Judges were particularly impressed by East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure’s tailored approach, which includes targeted support for pupils requiring additional assistance, specialised sessions for young people with additional support needs, and dedicated female-only classes that promote cultural inclusion and body confidence.

Generation Swim

The award celebrates leisure providers, local authorities and aquatic providers who are delivering the Learn to Swim National Framework across Scotland - a partnership between Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming- with the vision to create ‘Generation Swim’, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer. 

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure’s win marks a significant achievement in its continued mission to offer a Learn to Swim programme that works for all ages and abilities, and in particular for families in the region, from toddlers taking their first strokes to teens seeking to build lifelong skills.

Karen Baxter Swimming Development Manager at East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, said: “Winning this award is an incredible reflection of the effort our team puts in every single day to support our swimmers and their families.

“We pride ourselves on being adaptable and inclusive, making sure every child, no matter their background or ability, has the chance to thrive in the water while ensuring they feel safe and confident.

“We’re also committed to creating a strong and supported workforce, which we believe is key to delivering a consistent, high-quality experience across all our lessons.”

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure’s approach includes a highly effective intervention system designed to support learners who may be progressing more slowly through the programme. Staff identify pupils who are taking longer than usual to advance a level and implement personalised action plans, a move that has contributed to improved satisfaction and higher retention rates.

As well as creating a safe and welcoming environment for young swimmers, the organisation has built a robust staff development pipeline. It offers the Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ) as a vocational choice in secondary schools and partners new recruits with experienced mentors, with all training costs covered by the body. 

Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water, said: “We’re proud to support Learn to Swim.

“East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure’s achievement is an inspiring example of how powerful Learn to Swim can be. Their commitment and their inclusive approach to deliver high-quality swim lessons really is helping to make sure that learning to swim is open to all ages and abilities - learning to swim is such an important safety skill.   
 
"With their help, and hundreds of others across the country, we're making a really positive difference in creating a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who not only learn a vital life skill but also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer."

Outstanding

John Lunn, Chief Executive Officer at Scottish Swimming, said: “We were incredibly impressed by the standard of entries this year, but East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure stood out for its forward-thinking, inclusive and community-led approach.

“It’s team goes above and beyond to ensure every swimmer is given the best chance to succeed, and the results speak for themselves. It is an outstanding example of what the Learn to Swim programme represents.”

Now in its eighth year, the Learn to Swim Provider of the Year Award recognises organisations making a real impact in their communities by delivering high-quality lessons that help children and adults develop a vital life skill.

The winner will receive an exclusive poolside visit from the Learn to Swim Framework ambassadors - Olympic, World & Commonwealth Champion Duncan Scott and Paralympian and World Champion Toni Shaw.

At last year’s awards, Sport Aberdeen took home the same honour, while this year’s shortlist also included Active Stirling and Edinburgh Leisure – all showcasing the powerful impact of local providers across the country.

Learn to Swim is a National Framework creating inclusive environments where individuals of all ages and abilities can learn to swim. It develops confident, competent swimmers while promoting healthy, active lifestyles. Around 84,000 children and adults participate in lessons weekly across Scotland.

Safety in and around water is central to the Framework. Swimming provides essential life skills to help people stay safer, whether at local pools, beaches, or around Scotland's coastline, rivers, reservoirs and lochs.

For more on the Learn to Swim programme, visit: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim