How One Girl Inspired a National Movement for Inclusive Swimming

At Zoggs, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident and free in the water. That’s why we were so inspired by the story of SEN Swimming UK — an organisation built on love, determination, and one very special young swimmer named Lily.

We caught up with Troy Parsonage, Founder and CEO of SEN Swimming UK, to learn how his sister’s journey sparked a nationwide movement for inclusion in swimming.

SEN Swimming UK began with my younger sister, Lily, who has Down’s syndrome. From her earliest days in parent-and-baby classes, she loved the water - splashing, laughing, and finding freedom in every swim.

But as her peers progressed into higher stages, Lily was left behind. The lessons weren’t built for her, and the joy she once felt began to fade. Eventually, frustrated and upset, my parents made the difficult decision to stop her lessons.

We spent years searching for a teacher who truly understood Lily’s needs. Each new attempt brought hope - but also disappointment. By the age of ten, she still couldn’t swim or feel safe in the water.

I knew something had to change. Determined to help, I trained as a swimming teacher and began teaching Lily myself.

Slowly, things shifted. Lily began to thrive in the pool — smiling again, finding rhythm, she rediscovered her love of the water. What started as support for my sister soon grew into Lily-Pad, a small swimming school for children with Special Educational Needs. Families arrived with stories just like Lily’s — children excluded or left behind because lessons weren’t designed to meet their needs.

As demand for lessons grew, I was overwhelmed by the number of families reaching out for support. It became clear this wasn’t just a local problem — families across the country were facing the same challenges. That’s when I knew something bigger needed to happen, and the idea for SEN Swimming UK began to take shape.

Today, SEN Swimming UK works alongside incredible organisations like Zoggs, who share our commitment to making swimming more inclusive. Together, we’re helping to create a future where every young swimmer, regardless of need or ability, can experience the confidence, joy, and freedom that the water brings.