Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Leisure are delighted to announce that additional support from Activity Wales, through the Long Course Weekend Legacy Fund, will help extend school swimming provision across the county – ensuring more children and schools receive the help they need most.

The core school swimming programme continues to be funded by Pembrokeshire County Council, providing every primary school in the county with access to this essential life skill.

Thanks to the additional Legacy Funding, Pembrokeshire Leisure will now be able to employ an extra qualified swimming instructor to work alongside the existing School Swimming Instructor.

This will allow for more focused support to those schools and pupils who would benefit most, helping ensure that every child has the chance to become a confident and safe swimmer.

School swimming lessons offer much more than time in the pool – they provide an engaging and purposeful introduction to the water, teaching vital skills in swimming, water confidence, and safety that children can use throughout their lives.

Pembrokeshire’s commitment to school swimming is already delivering strong results.

During the 2024/25 academic year, 62% of children in Years 3–6 achieved the national swimming standard, well above the national average of less than 40%.

In addition, 80% of pupils leaving Year 6 achieved the National Curriculum standard, showing the impact of sustained local investment and dedicated instruction.

Pembrokeshire Leisure and the Long Course Weekend fully support Swim Wales and Water Safety Wales’ belief that all children should have the opportunity to learn to swim and stay safe around water.

Together, they encourage all pupils to achieve the Nofio Ysgol Gold Award – the recognised minimum standard for swimming and self-rescue skills by the end of primary school.

Importantly, all primary schools in Pembrokeshire currently access school swimming lessons, ensuring that every child in the county has the opportunity to learn this vital life skill.

This collaboration between Pembrokeshire Council, Pembrokeshire Leisure, Activity Wales and the Long Course Weekend demonstrates the power of partnership in helping every child thrive, both in and out of the water.

Matthew Evans, CEO of Long Course Weekend, said: “The results from our Legacy Programme have been nothing short of incredible - a real testament to what can be achieved when communities and partners come together with purpose.

“LCW has become so much more than an event; it’s a platform to give back, to inspire, and to invest in the next generation of Pembrokeshire’s children.

“What Mel [Morgan, PCC Swimming Teacher] and her team have accomplished is truly unparalleled in Wales. This year we’re taking it even further, launching a free open water swim programme for children - made possible only through the generosity of our athletes and the unwavering support of partners like Hugh James and Princes Gate Water, whose belief in this mission continues to elevate the Legacy Programme to new heights.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Council Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “Our ongoing partnership with the Long Course Weekend, supported through their legacy funding, has enabled Pembrokeshire Leisure to enhance our school learn-to-swim programme.

“This collaboration has achieved its aim of giving local schoolchildren the best possible opportunity to develop this vital life skill. We are extremely grateful for their contribution, which, alongside our core provision, has allowed us to deliver targeted support that makes a real difference for those most in need.”