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Swim to survive initiative targets half a million Kiwi kids
Media Release
30 May 2011
Swim to survive initiative targets half a million Kiwi kids
More than 17,000 Kiwi kids are learning to swim to survive thanks to a recently launched partnership that aims to reach up to half a million children over three years.
Sealord Swim For Life is a partnership between Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) and the country’s best known seafood company.
Launched at the end of 2010, Sealord Swim For Life already has 600 schools signed up. It has a vision of all New Zealand children being able to swim 200m by the age of 12.
At the moment only around 21% of 12 year olds can swim this far.
According to Water Safety New Zealand General Manager, Matt Claridge, more than half of all ten year olds can’t swim 25 metres and 25% can’t even keep afloat. Research by Water Safety New Zealand has identified that the swimming ability of our youth is in crisis and the organisation has been advocating the need for change since 2002.
“Sealord Swim For Life allows WSNZ and our partners, including Regional Sports Trusts and Territorial Authorities, to facilitate and enhance learn to swim and water safety education in schools, swim schools, and community pools.
“Our Sealord Swim For Life Passport rewards each child for reaching water safety milestones and gives them something tangible that relates to their learn to swim and survive journey,” says Claridge.
The initiative works by breaking down barriers, the most basic of which is the ability to access the water for learn to swim instruction, whether it’s transport to pools or gaining funding for pool entry. It provides the opportunity for improving the quality of lessons by engaging professional swim instructors or school teachers in professional development in swim and survive education.
For Sealord, investing in water safety makes perfect sense.
According to Sealord CEO, Graham Stuart, the aims of the initiative reflect the company’s own commitment to safety and values.
“As a company with a strong connection to the sea, Sealord felt strongly that we had a role to play in raising the level of swim and survival skills. And the place to start is with our children,” says Stuart.
Sealord has also encouraged employees to nominate children for free swimming lessons – resulting in more than 3,300 lessons being provided at no cost to parents.
Ends
For more information, www.sealordswimforlife.org.nz
www.watersafety.org.nz
www.sealord.com
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