WIREDGOV

Three years out from the London 2012 Games, sports are working hard to capitalise on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get more people playing and enjoying sport.

The 46 national governing bodies (NGBs) benefiting from £480 million of Sport England investment are putting in place the building blocks to achieve ambitious sport-by-sport targets. For swimming that includes a number of initiatives, including beacon clubs, a national volunteering recognition scheme - and the Government's free swimming initiative.

In the first three months of the scheme, youngsters and older people have taken the plunge over 4.4 million times.

Sport England is supporting the work to maximise the scheme’s potential, through a new network of county swimming co-ordinators and the offer of 100,000 free swimming lessons to non-swimmers. We are also administering a £50 million capital fund, enabling local authorities to modernise existing pools and help build new facilities.work to maximise the scheme’s potential, through a new network of county swimming co-ordinators and the offer of 100,000 free swimming lessons to non-swimmers. We are also administering a £50 million capital fund, enabling local authorities to modernise existing pools and help build new facilities.

The Chief Executive, David Sparkes, said: “The free swimming figures show the power of this sport. All the research pointed to a massive latent demand for swimming and this initiative seems to have put a light to the blue touch paper.”Chief Executive, David Sparkes, said: “The free swimming figures show the power of this sport. All the research pointed to a massive latent demand for swimming and this initiative seems to have put a light to the blue touch paper.”

Sport England is investing more than £20 million in the four-year plan, which is based around a commitment to improving the customer experience for swimmers, and thereby keeping them returning to the pool. Key initiatives include:four-year plan, which is based around a commitment to improving the customer experience for swimmers, and thereby keeping them returning to the pool. Key initiatives include:

• Beacon clubs
  Established clubs are working with smaller swimming clubs to share coaching expertise, support staff and resources. These beacon clubs act as the heartbeat for talent development, driving up performance
• Swim21 accreditation
  The ASA is developing its club accreditation scheme and has set a target of ensuring half of its registered clubs gain accreditation, creating more safe and sustainable environments for swimmers to participate
• Adult volunteering
  The ASA will deliver a national volunteering award and recognition scheme, supported by a training programme for team managers
• Facility development
  A local facility support project is being created to enable the renovation and development of small facilities, increasing swimming pool usage and protecting their futures.

The progress being made by swimming is typical of the work being done by the 46 governing bodies, which gives us confidence that, together, we can deliver a lasting legacy of increased sporting participation and satisfaction.

You can find more information on the outcomes each sport is working to achieve by visiting our NGB investment webpage