Thanks to a new partnership with the Andrew Simpson Foundation, children from serving Naval families across the city are invited to take part in the Swim Free programme.

The initiative provides funded swimming lessons at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre to encourage participants to develop a skill for life, and strengthen their connection to the Royal Navy community.

BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, operates many of the city’s sports and leisure facilities in partnership with Portsmouth City Council. Its Swimming Academy is one of the biggest swimming lesson providers in Portsmouth, providing lessons for all ages and abilities at Mountbatten Leisure Centre and Charter Community Sports Centre.

The charity has been selected by the Andrew Simpson Foundation to deliver swimming lessons to children and young people from serving Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families across the city.

Swim Free is funded by Greenwich Hospital, who support serving and veteran Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and their families, and has been for over 325 years. They aim to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of those who serve our Nation.

So far, 30 children in the city have benefitted from the lessons and more are expected to enrol later this year. Each young person has received funding for 12 swimming lessons.

As well as being a skill for life, regular swimming also supports mental and physical health, growing confidence, and increasing resilience and willingness to try new things. Children from the armed forces often miss out on enrolling in long-term courses such as swimming lessons due to frequent relocation.

As well as delivering an opportunity to learn this life-saving skill, the Swim Free programme enables participants to meet other young people with a serving parent, helping to foster friendships and build a sense of belonging in the RN community.

More information about Swim Free, including eligibility and how to apply for the programme, can be found at swim-free.org.uk

BH Live is currently helping more than 2,250 people across the city learn to swim through its Swimming Academy programme. Furthermore, pupils from across 20 local primary schools are learning to swim as part of the National Curriculum.

Delivered at Mountbatten Leisure Centre and Charter Community Sports Centre, all BH Live’s Swimming Academy lessons are taught by qualified swimming teachers in line with Swim England’s National Plan to develop participants’ confidence, techniques, and general skills in the water.

All ages and abilities are welcome, with Adult & Baby classes taking place for tots aged 3 months and upwards; Junior classes on offer for children 4-13 years; and Adult classes available for beginners, improvers, and experienced swimmers aged 14+.

In addition to its swimming lesson programme, the centre also offers a weekly timetable of public swim sessions and aqua classes available to both BH Live Active members and pay-as-you-go visitors. The centre regularly hosts national and regional swimming galas and is home to AquaDash!, an inflatable pool-based obstacle course, which opened in 2023.

On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared;

“We are delighted to have partnered with the Andrew Simpson Foundation to deliver these funded swimming lessons to help children build a supportive and friendly environment. As well delivering a life-saving skill, it’s a fantastic opportunity to create an immediate and long-lasting impact on Portsmouth’s younger communities.”

On behalf of Andrew Simpson Foundation, Sam Weeks, Outreach and Communications Manager, shared;

“We are pleased to bring the Swim Free programme to young people from serving Naval families in Portsmouth. By providing funded swimming lessons, we aim to equip children with a life-saving skill while fostering connections within their communities. The support of Greenwich Hospital and our partnership with BH Live ensures that these young swimmers not only gain confidence in the water but also strengthen their sense of belonging in the Royal Navy community.”

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport said:

“Swimming is an important life skill to have, especially for people living in Portsmouth as we are surrounded by the sea, and being a naval city it’s fantastic to be able to offer this opportunity to children from serving families.

 “Encouraging healthy lifestyles in our communities, and promoting positive physical health is important to us. I have visited both the Andrew Simpson Centre and BH Live’s facilities in Portsmouth, so I’m delighted to see this partnership working in this way to benefit children and families in the city.”

For more information about the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/mountbatten.