More than 20 organisations have joined together in the UK to form the Swim Alliance, which will advocate with one cohesive voice and work to overcome challenges facing the sport.

A number of key issues have been identified to work on, including increasing the learning to swim and participation levels among adults and children; tackling the impact of energy prices on municipal pools; increasing the use of swimming for health initiatives; ensuring that open water is safe and clean and increasing diversity in be sport.

Initially convened by Sport England, the founding members of the Swimming Alliance represent the diversity of the sector and include leisure operators, National Governing Bodies, charities and membership organisations.

Debbie Kaye, the former chair of the Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association (CLOA), has been elected chair: “By working together and combining our expertise and resources we believe we’ll be able to achieve more. The partner bodies have a common cause and will be able to speak with a single voice – be that to government or to the general public – and collaborate effectively on solutions.

“Access to swimming in the UK is currently at risk, due to a multitude of factors. The number of children learning to swim is continuing to fall and the number of drownings are rising; increasing numbers of public swimming pools are threatened with closure due to high energy costs and the financial pressures on local authorities and Britain’s coast and rivers are experiencing unprecedented levels of water pollution. It’s crucial we act together and act now to ensure the situation gets better, not worse.”

Members of the Swimming Alliance include: Black Owned Swim Schools, Black Swimming Association, British Triathlon, Beyond Swim, CLOA, CIMPSA, Everyone Active, Freedom Leisure, GLL, Good Boost, Institute of Swimming (Swim England), Level Water, National Trust, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Places for People, Royal Life Saving Society, Speedo, Sport England, Swim England, Swimathon Foundation, Swimming Teachers Association and the Outdoor Swimming Society.