Key Points
- More than 20,000 Tower Hamlets residents now access free swimming, as reported by the local Council.
- Over 18,000 of these are women and girls aged 16 and over, and nearly 3,900 are residents aged 55 and over.
- Women and girls now represent 82% of users, compared to just over 40% before the scheme started.
- The initiative was implemented to address health inequalities, especially inactivity among females and older adults.
- The scheme, “Be Well”, was introduced in July 2024 as part of the borough’s drive to promote physical activity and well-being.
- Younger adults (ages 16–34) and older adults (ages 55+) show strong engagement, indicating broad appeal.
- Free swimming lessons for women and girls are part of the programme to build swimming confidence and long-term participation.
- The scheme’s launch follows a national decline in available swimming pools, with more than 1,000 closures nationally since 2010.
- Local residents and officials, including Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Cabinet Member Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, have voiced support and shared positive impacts on health and community.
- Registration is open online or in person, requiring proof of eligibility (age and residency).
- Tower Hamlets Council has invested in leisure centres, with upgrades and staff insourcing as part of the ‘Be Well’ initiative.
More than 20,000 Tower Hamlets residents are celebrating improved access to physical activity, thanks to the Council’s ambitious free swimming programme aimed at tackling health inequalities and fostering community well-being. As persistent health and activity gaps become the focus of public health policy, local leaders and residents are seeing tangible results one year after the scheme was launched.
How Many Residents Have Benefited From Free Swimming in Tower Hamlets?
As reported by the Communications Team of Tower Hamlets Council, more than 20,000 residents—specifically 20,583—are now registered and accessing free swimming sessions across the borough’s leisure centres. Of these users, over 18,000 are women and girls aged 16 and above, and nearly 3,900 are residents aged 55 or above. The Council’s data underlines the success of the scheme in reaching demographic groups that are typically underrepresented in physical activity.
Why Was the Free Swimming Programme Launched?
According to Wajiha Masud for Be Well in Tower Hamlets, the free swimming offer was created to help reduce pronounced health inequalities in the borough, where half of adults are overweight or obese and women, in particular, are less physically active than men. Local statistics show that women’s life expectancy in Tower Hamlets is seven years shorter than that of men. The scheme specifically targets women and girls aged 16 and over, as well as men aged 55 and over, who historically face the most barriers to physical activity.
As stated by Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman to Be Well,
“We are committed to reducing health inequalities and investing in health and well-being. Insourcing our leisure service and creating Be Well has been one of our many steps towards achieving this… Our new free swimming programme will address these health inequalities and make it easier and more accessible for those who need our support the most.”
What Were the Barriers the Initiative Hoped to Address?
The Council has recorded that women in Tower Hamlets are significantly more likely to be inactive, with older adults (aged 55+) at the lowest end of physical activity uptake. Socioeconomic disadvantage, cultural norms, and cost were all identified as major barriers.
According to Tower Hamlets’ official report by the Communications Team, Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, explained:
“In Tower Hamlets, we’re taking real action to tackle the deep health inequalities in our communities. At a time when access to swimming is vanishing elsewhere, we’re proud to be investing in public leisure, making it easier for thousands of residents to be active, healthy and connected. This isn’t just about swimming, it’s about building healthier communities.”
How Does Tower Hamlets’ Swimming Scheme Compare Nationally?
The initiative stands in stark contrast to national trends. Citing figures collated by Be Well in Tower Hamlets, more than 1,000 swimming pools have closed across the UK in the last 14 years—including 450 council pools—due to austerity and budget pressures. Tower Hamlets is moving against this tide, investing in keeping leisure facilities open and accessible for all.
What Has Been the Resident Response to Free Swimming?
First-hand accounts highlight positive impacts on both health and community:
- Tower Hamlets Council Communications Team quotes local resident Hussain Rabbani Chowdhury: “I go for my free swim once a week and am really happy it’s more accessible. I feel like it’s helped my health and wellbeing overall, and I feel lighter after my swim – it’s improved mobility in my arms and legs.”
- Joanne Barry, a carer and pensioner, added: “I thought swimming was more expensive than other activities and it can all add up at the end of the month – I think it’s great that it’s now free.”
How Are Residents Registering and Who Qualifies for Free Swimming?
According to information published by Family Hubs and Be Well in Tower Hamlets, registration is possible both online and at leisure centres. For eligibility, women and girls must be aged 16 or over, and all men must be aged 55 or over. Proof of age and Tower Hamlets residency is required. Those interested can check session times and book their slots through the Be Well portal, with separate time slots provided for general, fitness, and women-only sessions.
What Other Measures Accompany the Free Swimming Initiative?
The ‘Be Well’ initiative represents more than just free swimming—the Council is actively upgrading its leisure centre estate:
- As detailed in the July 2024 edition of Our East End (official Council newsletter), Tower Hamlets has invested over £55 million in new facilities, including fitness studios and health and wellbeing programmes.
- The management of seven leisure centres was brought in-house in May 2024 to promote direct control and deliver community-focused programmes.
- Additional free swimming lessons, particularly for women and girls, have been launched to reinforce water safety, build confidence, and support longer-term participation.
How Is the Success of the Programme Measured?
As reported by the Tower Hamlets Council team and cited on the Council news portal, there are now over 20,000 sign-ups—doubling participation rates among women and indicating strong engagement from younger and older adults alike. The Council sees this as a critical win in its effort to close health gaps and offer meaningful, accessible leisure to all, regardless of background or gender.
What Is the Future Outlook for Public Leisure in Tower Hamlets?
As outlined by Tower Hamlets Council, maintaining and expanding the free swimming offer is part of a wider strategy to keep residents healthy and connected, countering the tides of swimming pool closures seen elsewhere in the UK. Community leaders have committed to ongoing investments and encourage other London boroughs and councils nationally to consider similar steps to boost public health.
