More people than ever are learning to swim in Wirral!
In the past year alone, 430 children and adults have started swimming lessons at Active Wirral leisure centres. That means more confidence in the water, more people staying safe, and more chances to have fun and get active. With warm weather and summer holidays on the horizon, swimming is a vital skill that can save lives.
This Drowning Prevention Week, Active Wirral’s Swim Wirral is highlighting how families can build these essential skills. Formal swimming lessons reduce drowning risks by up to 88% among young children, directly supporting the school curriculum goal for every child to swim 25 metres unaided before starting high school.
Why Kids Need Swimming and Water Skills
- Life-Saving Ability: Swimming builds vital confidence and dramatically reduces drowning risks during summer and all year round.
- School Readiness: Curriculum guidelines require primary school pupils to learn how to rescue themselves safely in the water.
- Risk Awareness: Understanding water environments equips children to make safe, smart, and informed choices near open water.
Find Your Perfect Class
Our friendly lessons follow the Swim England framework and start at an affordable £7.30 per class. We have something for everyone:
- Aqua Tots / Ducklings (0 to 4 yrs): Have fun building water confidence and early safety skills together with a parent. An extra Saturday morning Aqua Tots session has just been added at Leasowe Leisure Centre!
- Stages 1-7 (Ages 5+ to 16): Watch your child become an independent swimmer and master all their strokes with a wide range of convenient class times across the borough.
- Adults (18+): It is never too late to learn! Come build your confidence or fine-tune your swimming technique.
You can find us at five welcoming local pools: Oval (Bebington), Europa Pools (Birkenhead), Guinea Gap (Seacombe), Leasowe, and West Kirby Concourse.
To book lessons or view timetables, log into the online Leisure Hub or contact the central team via email: swimwirral@wirral.gov.uk or call 0151 606 2010.
Water Safety & Resources
- Swim England: You can test their new online water safety game called Learn to Swim Companion.
- RNLI Lifesaving Advice: Remember the Float to Live technique for water emergencies.
