Funding details for free swimming proposals announced
By Pete Hayman
The government have set out further details of the plan to make swimming free for all by 2012.
Arrangements for the £140m scheme have been developed across government with the help of organisations including Sport England and the Amateur Swimming Association. In a written statement, culture secretary Andy Burnham outlined details of four pots from which local authorities will be invited to apply to fund the scrapping of pool admission fees. Starting in 2009, the funding will initially seek to encourage local authorities to make swimming free for over-60s and under-16s with the aim of extending the scheme further within the next four years. "We hope this statement will give local authorities the information they need to start planning for their budget setting cycle," said Burnham. "And to decide the extent to which they wish to exploit the opportunities offered by the scheme to improve the health and well-being of their communities and support delivery of local priorities as set out in their respective local area agreements." The first pot of funding will provide £15m each year from the government between 2009 and 2011 to make swimming free for over-60s. Local authorities will be given until mid-September to confirm whether they wish to participate in the scheme. A letter from the government to all local authorities will detail the resource funding allocation available, based according to the size of the local over-60 population. A further £25m has been set aside in the second pot for the provision of free swimming for under-16s. Local authorities who choose to participate in making swimming free for over-60s will also be invited to submit an expression of interest in the under-16s scheme by mid-September. Those authorities expressing an interest in both initiatives will be informed of their prospective allocation by the end of September, with confirmation required by mid-October. Local authorities which already provide free swimming facilities and qualify for funding will be entitled to fund initiatives to further increase and sustain participation before extending it to wider groups. Pots three and four will provide funds for the modernisation of pool provision with a total of £35m earmarked by the government. Pot three will offer a one-off capital grant in 2008/09 to local authorities participating in pots one and two. Local authorities will be awarded a share of £10m according to population share. Pot four will provide £25m capital per year in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to modernise pool provision, and will be administered by Sport England on the government's behalf. A prospectus for bids will be published at the end of July, and those authorities committed to offering free swimming will be invited to submit their costed plans for pot four by mid-October. The proposals to introduce free swimming for all by 2012 are a part of legacy plans for the London Olympics, which are being funded by a number of government departments including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sign up for FREE ezines & magazines
The government have set out further details of the plan to make swimming free for all by 2012.
PUB,SAR
070608-swimming-is-free
More News
03 Jun 2026
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and ... More
03 Jun 2026
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius. It's the company’s second Lithuanian site, following a hospital in Trakai, but ... More
03 Jun 2026
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already extensive portfolio. The Zoo Fit rollout starts in July with ... More
03 Jun 2026
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 10 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, more inclusive and more engaging. Built on the Speedflex training ... More
01 Jun 2026
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch of Farm Club, on 15 June. Located 30 minutes from ... More
01 Jun 2026
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 ... More
01 Jun 2026
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group. With decades of experience in immersive water-based attractions, Maelzer will ... More
29 May 2026
PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, in a new initiative timed to coincide with Mental Health ... More
29 May 2026
Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks ... More
29 May 2026
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse ... More
28 May 2026
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, ... More
28 May 2026
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations ... More
28 May 2026
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world ... More
28 May 2026
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and ... More
28 May 2026
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary, with the design and concept inspired by the Native ... More
- News by sector (all)
- All news
- Fitness
- Personal trainer
- Sport
- Spa
- Swimming
- Hospitality
- Entertainment & Gaming
- Commercial Leisure
- Property
- Architecture
- Design
- Tourism
- Travel
- Attractions
- Theme & Water Parks
- Arts & Culture
- Heritage & Museums
- Parks & Countryside
- Sales & Marketing
- Public Sector
- Training
- People
- Executive
- Apprenticeships
- Suppliers
Latest news
People news
Training news
Product innovation
