Case Study: GLL Manchester – Targeted swimming project




 

This project was one simply aimed to engage African and Caribbean women in swimming lessons for a 10-week period.

The participants would be provided with a Soul Cap, made to manage Afro hair, and taught how to swim with the intention of improved confidence and water safety, while becoming more physically active and having a positive impact on overall health and wellbeing.

The Soul Cap itself was the subject of controversy at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where it was banned – a move overturned two years later.

Among discussions about this and Black History Month, conversation turned to giving women from African and Caribbean backgrounds the chance to learn to swim and to encourage continued activity for health and wellbeing purposes beyond that.

GLL and Buzz agreed to joint fund the project, which would engage two cohorts of a total of 20 people in swimming lessons.

Woman of colour at edge of pool



Information regarding the project was made available to local community groups that supported the BAME communities and encouraged those interested to register their interest.

There were five leisure centres across the city that were being made available: Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre, East Manchester, Hough End, Moss Side Leisure Centre and North City Family and Fitness Centre.

Women from the African and Caribbean community were the initial target participants; however, one male and a few South Asian women were given the opportunity to participate.

The project hoped to achieve improved water confidence along with the confidence to go swimming independently following the project which would in turn provide positive movement towards improved health and wellbeing.

A celebration event was held with some of the participants, stakeholders and local councillors to showcase the impact and give the participants recognition for their achievement in taking part.

Feedback from those who took part included:



Motivation

  • Wanted to be able to take children/grandchildren swimming
  • Wanted to learn to swim
  • To build confidence
  • To let go of fears
  • It would be beneficial to health
  • It was free













Lessons

  • The swimming teachers were supportive
  • It was good to learn with others
  • Looked forward to weekly session













Health benefits

  • Strength and conditioning
  • Weight loss
  • Improved mobility
  • Pain reduction













Outcome

  • Participants learnt to swim
  • Improved confidence in the water
  • Social benefits
  • Health benefits















The celebration was well received and provided an opportunity to seek further funding to support similar opportunities via a Neighbourhood Investment Fund application to support wider opportunity for the African and Caribbean community.

This what some of those who completed the project had to say…





I always slept really well afterwards.

My wife said I should do more stuff like it on a regular basis.

 

African Caribbean Swimming Participant 5

I have a frozen shoulder, painful joints and arthritis. The exercise helped with the pain. It made me more flexible. Mentally, it uplifted me, and I felt better for going. Good chatting with other people, it was an evening out and I looked forward to it.

African Caribbean Swimming Participant 4

Swimming helped me to lose inches off my waistline…

and strengthen my core muscles.

 

African Caribbean Swimming Participant 3

We got to know the different instructors who were all very approachable. Each week we built on what we learnt the previous weeks, and sometimes we revisited the basics to ensure that we had the techniques grounded in.

African Caribbean Swimming Participant 2

The social side was beneficial as I met other learners and formed a common bond with them.

We would later stop and have a chat when we saw each other out in the community.

African Caribbean Swimming Participant 1









*Images sourced from The Black Swimming Association



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