Galwad am raglen genedlaethol nofio a diogelwch dŵr mewn ysgolion

Dyma erthygl Sioned Williams AS ar gyfer y South Wales Evening Post am yr angen i newid y ffaith bod boddi yn un o brif achosion marwolaethau damweiniol yng Nghymru

There are more than 100 beaches nestled along Wales’ coastline and we have many of the best here in our corner of Wales. From award winning Rhossili, to top surf spots Langland Bay and Rest Bay, not forgetting Wales’ longest beach at Aberafan. In fact, a third of Wales’ Blue Flags have been awarded to beaches in this stretch – these are the safest and cleanest and with high quality amenities.  

But with only 35% of Welsh children in years 3-6 being able to swim, it’s not always possible to keep everyone safe. A sobering fact is that drowning is one of the leading cause of accidental death in Wales. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. If every child was given water safety training, or better still, lessons as they were growing up, it could really make an important difference. 

It would also be good for Wales. At an elite level, Wales has historically punched above its weight when it comes to competitive swimming performance. However, a lack of investment has contributed to these worrying trends in the number of young people who can't swim at all – let alone competitively. 

Cost can be a barrier for too many families. The average cost of a 30-minute swimming lesson in Wales is £7.66, an increase of 30% in the last 3 years, and this will have put lessons beyond the reach of many families. With some local pools closing too due to cuts to council funding, the cost of transport can also be a barrier.

School swimming is the only opportunity for all Welsh children regardless of background or class to learn how to swim. 

And let’s not forget that swimming can be lots of fun, and helps with both physical health and mental wellbeing. 

I would like to see a new national school swimming and water safety programme, to provide a minimum school swimming experience for every child in Wales, consisting of 20 lessons of swimming and water safety for all Year 4 and 5 pupils.

This policy will not only save lives, but, as part of a preventative agenda, could help treat the root causes of physical and mental illness rather than just the symptoms. 

Swimming is both good exercise and a potentially life-saving skill from which the majority of children in Wales are not currently benefiting. 

Learning to swim should be a right, not a privilege.