Henry Smith MP has given his support to a nationwide campaign to encourage more people to enjoy the many health and social benefits of swimming.

The Swim England-led #LoveSwimming campaign has so far featured case studies which show how a trip to the pool can bring families together, help escape the stresses of a busy life and aid a range of medical conditions.

Henry said;

“I was delighted to join Swim England in Parliament to share why I #LoveSwimming.

“Being active in the water can be great for people’s physical and mental health, and I’d encourage people of all ages in Crawley to make use of our town’s facilities and to head down to the pool and take part in aquatic activities.”

Jane Nickerson, Chief Executive of Swim England, commented;

“2019 marks our 150th anniversary and as part of the celebrations we want even more people to be able to enjoy the water and all the benefits that being active in the water brings with it.

“Working with our partners, the #LoveSwimming campaign is a great way of highlighting how much fun the water can offer. We’re very grateful to Henry Smith MP for his support.”

According to Swim England statistics, 81 per cent of people aged over 11 can swim and more than 7 million go swimming every week, making it one of the most popular participation sports in the UK.

The number of women, older adults and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions actively swimming has also increased, according to research from Sport England’s Active Lives survey.