News

July 4, 2024 by Emma Jones

SwimFin Educational Alliance (SEA)

Going Back to School: (Re)developing school swimming and water safety through gamification.

Introduction

This research is a collaboration between the University of East London (UEL), SwimFin and the Black Owned Swim School (B.O.S.S).

School swimming delivery has been fraught with financial, logistical and accessibility barriers for several years (Swim England, 2017). The pandemic has exacerbated some of these issues and recent data highlights the worrying statistics that only 59% of children and young people in school Years 1-11 (ages 5-16) can swim 25m unaided (Sport England, 2023).

Furthermore, in the last academic year there were 6.3% fewer Year 7 children able to swim compared to 2017-18. With pool closures and cuts to school budgets, it is not an exaggeration to say we are in a state of crisis when it comes to developing the aquatic and water safety skills of young people.

Teachers in 36 per cent of state primary schools are offering none or fewer than 10 lessons per pupil across the academic year 2022-23 – despite it being part of the national curriculum (Sport England, 2023). Hence there is a need to re-engage with schools and tackle some of the barriers that are curtailing school swimming.

This project aims to encourage those invested in aquatics to move in the same direction and with synchrony when it comes to school swimming. Learning to swim at school may be the only opportunity some young people have to develop this life skill; hence the quality of teaching is imperative, and time needs to be used effectively to aspire to achieve outcomes for all.

August 10, 2017 by Karin Joyce

SwimFin is a must-have for the Beach

SwimFin is wonderful in the pool but is also a must-have for the beach! Why is SwimFin so perfect for the beach? Here are just a few reasons why:

SwimFin is easy to pack and even easier to put on as soon as you arrive at the beach!
Unlike arm bands or vests/floats, SwimFin doesn’t impede movement as it is securely attached to the back. Children’s arms and legs are free to move, run, jump, splash and twirl without restriction.
SwimFin keeps your child safe in and out of the water and allows for some brilliant beach role play. Land Shark anyone?
SwimFin will allow your child to be safe around rock pools and along the shore in the event that they fall in or the water/tide comes in quickly. We always need to remain vigilant around the water and be aware of tides and dangers but your child will be safe in the water if an emergency arises.
SwimFin comes in 9 brilliant and BRIGHT colours which keeps your child easily visible on busy beaches and in the water.

We’re so pleased to share with you a blog post from Haven, Britain’s favourite caravan holiday parks, that features SwimFin as one of the Top 5 Beach Gadgets You Need to Own. We definitely agree that if you’re heading to the beach in the U.K. or internationally, you need to pick up a SwimFin for your Little Sharks. Pop on over to our SwimFin shop to order your favourite colour today!

We’re off to the beach now! In our bags: sunscreen, bucket & spade, picnic blanket & wind break and, of course, a SwimFin! Stay safe SwimFin fans.

March 21, 2017 by Karin Joyce

SwimFin is going LIVE on Facebook in April

SwimFin is really excited to be going LIVE on our Facebook Page in April. Our Head Shark, Kevin Moseley will be at our SwimFin HQ to answer your best questions in a 30-minute LIVE session which will be held on Thursday 6 April from Noon (GMT). What we need from our SwimFin fans are QUESTIONS! We would love to have a handful of questions ahead of time from our fans which will start off the Facebook Live session. You will also be able to tune in by visiting our Facebook page at Noon on Thursday 6 April and ask questions Live which Kevin will be happy to answer.

What would you like to know about SwimFin? Do you have any questions or worries that are holding you back from purchasing a SwimFin? Kevin is the expert on all things SwimFin and will, of course, be able to give you loads of great advice and tips. Perhaps your child is already a fan of SwimFin but you would like to help them progress to being a more confident swimmer with their SwimFin on and then beyond, when they no longer need their SwimFin for support? Maybe you’d like some ideas about games and fun lessons for your children when you go swimming as a family or when you are on holiday this Easter break? Or perhaps you’re wondering why SwimFin is the best swimming aid for your child over arm bands, back floats or life jackets?

Be sure to tune in on THURSDAY 6 APRIL from Noon GMT on the SwimFin Facebook Page for Questions, Answers and MORE! We look forward to reading your questions and seeing you on the day!

January 23, 2017 by Karin Joyce

SwimFin partners with Royal Life Saving Society- the Drowning Prevention Charity

The UK’s drowning prevention charity and leading provider of water safety and drowning prevention education, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), is proud to announce that they are working with SwimFin as an official Water Safety Partner.

SwimFin, designed by Kevin Moseley, a highly qualified UK swimming coach with over 25 years experience, is the only vertical swimming aid suitable for children aged 2 years and older which assists with both learn-to-swim and stroke improvement training.

RLSS UK has entered into a Water Safety Partnership with SwimFin due to its key design features which promote safety during swimming lessons and play, whilst also speeding up the learning process for children, helping them to become better swimmers more quickly.

Key safety design features include:
1) The Fin supports a vertical body position at rest and a horizontal body position when swimming, helping to develop a better natural swimming position
2) Due to its unique shape, the Fin reduces in buoyancy as the swimmer improves and swims closer to the surface
3) It is suitable for child and adult learners (up to 16 stone)
4) Two high quality Velcro straps securely hold the aid to the swimmers body, so it can’t slip away from the learner
5) The Fin reduces the time it takes a child or adult to learn to swim, helping them to become safer quicker
6) Compliant with international safety standards for toys and buoyancy aids (EN71 & EN13138)

RLSS UK Deputy Director of Education and Research, Mike Dunn said: “We are proud to announce a partnership with SwimFin. Teaching children to swim, either as a parent or a swimming teacher is very rewarding, but it can be difficult when children lack confidence or are scared of dropping their float in the water.

“It’s amazing to see how quickly children lose those concerns and start to have fun when using the SwimFin, and combined with the fact that the children can still control their own body position and use their arms and legs freely it’s no wonder that children learn more quickly using this device.

“The buoyancy rating and the high quality straps are great safety features, but of course no matter how good a buoyancy aid is, it is critical that children are kept under constant supervision when in or near the water. Teaching children to swim is an early and very important step to helping them to be safer around water”.

“We are also looking in to how SwimFin may help older, more confident swimmers to have a go at open water swimming, both as a training aid in the pool and as a visual, buoyancy, and confidence aid when open water swimming”.

RLSS UK and SwimFin’s ambition for this partnership is that it will help more children to learn how to swim and stay safe around the water, and support and encourage more people to try safe water based activities.

SwimFin CEO Kevin Moseley said: “We are delighted to partner with the RLSS UK to promote water safety, not just in the UK, but also around the world. Drowning is preventable. Teaching the dangers of water in the home, the pool or the beach in a fun way will help children pick up the crucial life saving skills that could help therm save lives. Having developed a swimming aid that appeals to children and promotes water safety at its core, I can rest assured SwimFin is already saving lives”.

Visit our website at rlss.org.uk

Visit our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/RLSSUK

Call – 0300 323 0096