The Institute of Swimming has launched a Swimming Teachers' Academy with Abbeycroft Leisure in a bid to increase its swimming teacher workforce and provide more opportunities for people in Suffolk to learn how to swim.

The Academy will offer local people the chance to retrain for free (with only a one off £79 administration fee) and embark on a career as a swimming teacher. Training historically cost individuals £1000. There are no educational requirements for applying, nor do you have to be an 'elite' swimmer.

Abbeycroft Leisure is looking to train and recruit up to 18 new swimming teachers at Newmarket Leisure Centre, Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre, Hadleigh Pool & Leisure, Haverhill Leisure Centre, Kingfisher Leisure Centre and Mildenhall Hub, to expand its aquatic offering to the local community. Once fully qualified, swimming teachers can expect to earn up to £14.50 per hour.

Kate Martin, General Manager, Abbeycroft Leisure, Skyliner and Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre says: "We are currently providing swimming lessons to more than 7000 local children and adults per week. But we are committed to further increasing our aquatics offer within Suffolk, as we understand the importance of learning to swim and the vital life skill this provides to everyone of all ages. If we could retrain a further 18 swimming teachers we would be able to teach an additional 900 children each week, which would have real life impact on our local communities. Currently, a shortage of swimming teachers makes it difficult for us to expand our Learn to Swim programme and to cover staff sickness/holidays.

"We are passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive swimming lessons for our community and, by offering free training opportunities through the recruitment academy, we aim to find passionate people who wish to embrace a career in swimming teaching. It is our vision to be the swim school of choice for every parent looking for fun, inspiring and safety-focused swimming lessons for their children, and our swimming instructors are integral to us achieving this."

Swim England's data shows 96 per cent of UK swimming teachers love their job and love giving back to the community to support children in developing an essential life skill. Further data shows that more than half of swim teachers have previously held different careers and they are even more likely to agree that being on poolside gives them happiness, fulfilment and a good work/life balance.

Rebecca Cox, Managing Director, Institute of Swimming says: "Teaching swimming is a very rewarding career, with flexible hours, that might suit someone who wants to supplement their existing income or to work around their caring or studying responsibilities. We are looking to attract new people into the sector who may not have considered teaching swimming as a career opportunity. There are no educational restrictions to entering the training, and you don't need to be an 'expert' swimmer either. The recruitment academy seeks to offer the opportunity to become a swimming instructor to enthusiastic, local people who can offer their time and commitment in exchange for this funded training opportunity."

The Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for free with just a £79 registration fee and takes them through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification. The usual cost of these two courses is £1000. In addition to the training, applicants will also receive a one year membership to the Institute of Swimming and access to the online Introduction to Swimming Strokes - Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Anyone interested should complete an online form by the closing date, 27th April 2023. To find out more or fill in the application form visit: https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/suffolk-swimming-teacher-recruitment-academy-abbeycroft/