**Transport Costs Identified as Major Obstacle to Cardiff Children’s Swimming Lessons**
Concerns have been raised regarding the low proportion of children in Cardiff who are able to swim, following the revelation that transportation costs are hindering access to essential swimming lessons. The pressing issue comes into sharper focus after a study conducted in 2024 found that just 16% of children in the Welsh capital possess swimming skills — a statistic that has sparked widespread debate and prompted targeted interventions across the city.
In response to these findings, Cardiff Council, working in collaboration with public health bodies and sports partners, initiated the Cardiff School Swimming pilot. The scheme aims to help more children safely access swimming instruction as part of the national curriculum, and to tackle the primary barrier so often cited by schools: the prohibitive cost of transporting pupils to local pools.
At a recent council meeting, councillors voiced disappointment that the number of children enrolled in swimming lessons through schemes offered by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) had fallen over the past year. In March 2025, GLL — known locally as Better Leisure — reported 4,300 children as swim school members, a decrease from 4,641 in March 2024. While long-term trends show gradual growth, with 4,387 members registered in 2019, council members described progress as sluggish.
Despite these challenges, the council has reported a positive shift in school participation rates. Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Sarah Merry, revealed that school engagement in curriculum swimming lessons has risen from 57% to 74% during the pilot period. More than 2,250 children are expected to have benefitted from swimming sessions facilitated by the scheme before the current academic year ends. This development is seen as a marked improvement, yet there is broad consensus that further progress is needed.
Councillor Merry emphasised the importance of swimming not only as part of the Curriculum for Wales, but as a life-saving skill. She explained, “For a long time, the most significant obstacle for schools has been transport costs. We are dedicated to offering substantial support to schools so swimming lessons can be a reality for every pupil, not a privilege for a select few.”
The impact of restricted swimming access is highlighted by a 2024 study from Cardiff Metropolitan University and Swim Wales, which painted a sobering picture: only 57% of primary schools in Cardiff had been able to send their pupils to swimming lessons. Leisure centre managers have described these findings as “deeply saddening”, given that learning to swim can be a crucial determinant of water safety and confidence later in life.
To address these concerns, the Cardiff Commitment Curriculum Team — in partnership with Swim Wales, Cardiff Met Sport, GLL, Legacy Leisure, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, and Public Health Wales — is not only running the school swimming pilot but has also implemented systems to better track and support children’s progress. A new data collection process identifies pupils yet to achieve the “Nofio Ysgol Gold Award”, enabling targeted interventions for those at risk of missing out.
Ryan David, Aquatics Development Manager for Cardiff Met Sport, stressed the stakes involved: “Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in Wales, particularly among young people. Ensuring every child learns to swim must be non-negotiable. This pilot is a significant step forward, but it will take the sustained effort of families, schools, leisure providers, and wider communities to make sure no child is excluded.”
Looking ahead, Cardiff Council has announced plans to expand the school swimming pilot into the 2025/26 academic year, reflecting optimism that collaborative partnership and continued investment can improve outcomes city-wide.
While the issue of transportation costs is now firmly on the policy agenda, Cardiff’s experience illustrates a broader challenge facing public health and education authorities everywhere: ensuring that vital life skills are within reach for all, irrespective of a family’s financial circumstances. For Cardiff’s children, the hope is that comprehensive support and persistent advocacy will help every young person enjoy the safety and confidence of being able to swim.