Tom Dean teams up with The Royal Foundation to help thousands of kids learn to swim

Tom Dean has partnered with the Royal Foundation to roll out his Swim School programme to potentially thousands of children from underserved areas of the UK.

Tragically, the number of children drowning in the UK has more than doubled from 20 in 2019/20 to 41 in 2022/23 and Dean is determined to enable as many children as possible to learn this vital life skill.

As he says, it’s the only sport that can truly save your life and with the help of the foundation it’s been possible for Tom Dean Swim School sessions to run in many areas of the UK where children don’t have easy access to pools or swimming lessons.

These sessions will help those children become proficient in learning to swim and being safe around water and Swim England stats from 2021 reveals that nearly one in three children in this country leave primary school without being able to swim.

Certified instructors from the Swim School - or trained up by the Swim School - will deliver the sessions and they will take place in towns and cities across the UK, like Birtley in Tyne and Wear, which opened a new community pool last year with financial support from The Royal Foundation.

The pool is staffed entirely by volunteers and is run as a not-for-profit enterprise, and those staff have been receiving guidance and strategic support from the Tom Dean Swim School. Last year, 88,000 adults and children visited the pool to swim and have lessons.

Dean said: Every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and understand water safety. Swimming is a vital life skill that builds resilience, fosters social connection and keeps young people safe when they are in and around water.

“This partnership with The Royal Foundation is supporting so many young people, up and down the UK, to find a pool near to them and dive in. Let’s get kids swimming, wherever they live.”

Melanie Waters OBE, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation, added: “Over the last year, I’ve been inspired by how much the community has achieved in Birtley, reopening their pool and encouraging so many people to come and swim there.

“This new partnership between The Royal Foundation and the Tom Dean MBE Swim School is an important next step, as we encourage everyone – parents, teachers and kids – to see the benefits of learning to swim.

“Huge thanks to Tom Dean, and everyone at the Tom Dean Swim School, for working with us to bring this project to life.”