In December 2018 Rachel Franklin the Swimkidz Franchisee in South East London was approached by Phoenix Primary School with an opportunity to rejuvenate a derelict swimming pool. The pool, which is set in gardens has laid dormant for 5 years and needed complete refurbishment.

Working in partnership and with a lot of hard graft they have bought the pool back to life so that it can be the centre of the local community in delivering life saving swimming lessons to the local babies, toddlers and children. With a joint vision the pool is now teaching swimming to not only Phoenix school but also Ilderton, St James and Pilgrims Way schools. Swimkidz is delivering part of the National Curriculum as we are part of Swim England National Charter for Swimming and STA schools. Delivering comprehensive and progressive lessons for primary schools with assessments throughout on specific criteria is helping to deliver this life saving skill. Most children had never swum before and after 1 term of intensive lessons we are achieving half of the children swimming 10 meters and a third swimming 25 metres.

In addition to this Swimkidz has started an exciting programme of baby and toddler swimming for the local community. These lessons are structured and designed to build water confidence so that water safety becomes second nature to the babies.

Rachel Franklin of Swimkidz said “To be involved in a project like this has been both hard work and very exciting, I have really seen the difference that the rejuvenation of this pool has made to the children in the schools and also to the babies we are teaching. I believe that by Swimkidz and local authorities working together we can really make a difference to the communities in which we live. There are further exciting plans for the area and by working in partnership these will ensure this centre of excellence of swimming will become a focal point for the local community.”

Phoenix School agreed with Rachel saying “Swimkidz have bought passion, hard work and a lot of expertise to this project and without Rachel we would not of made such rapid progress. Working with Swimkidz has been a real pleasure as we have the same drive to deliver a better community and by teaching the lifesaving skill of swimming we are delivering on our combined goals and will do for years to come. The kids love the lessons and always come out with a smile on their face.”

If you would like to know more about becoming a Swimkidz Franchisee and developing exciting opportunities like this, then please contact us. As Rachel says, “take the plunge and start a Swimkidz Franchise and you will never look back and always go to work with a smile on your face!”