The water, to my swim mates and me, is a place where everyone is welcome.

Because of this, it can be viewed as one of many equalizers when it comes to diversity and inclusion, including for the LGBT community of which I am a proud member. 

In fact, during LGBT History Month, I have been reflecting on my own journey as a gay individual, including how the water has helped me be more confident and visible.

How to get out of that rut, and gain a new perspective through swimming

Mental Health Swim Series

It’s the middle of winter, pouring down outside and I haven’t been for a swim in over a week. The longer I go without swimming the longer the rut lasts, and the harder it feels just to jump on the bus to the pool or my local reservoir. This felt like the story of the winter just gone, and despite signing up to

Sarah’s Story | Mental Health Swims Blog Series

I’ve always been a water baby and get so much joy from swimming but it’s only in recent years that I've started swimming and dipping regularly outside. In that time, cold water has become invaluable to my mental health.

A number of years ago I left a job that was making me miserable and decided to take some time out.

Annie’s guide to your first training season

You’ve got to start somewhere…

You’ve selected your swim challenge, but now what? Where do you start in terms of training? It can feel a little overwhelming at the beginning, and that’s whether you’re new to the challenge or not, it can still

River Therapy

In 2021 we partnered with the incredible Mental Health Swims. A non-profit, volunteer-led swimming community who put on open water swimming sessions across the country to encourage and empower people with mental illnesses to enjoy the healing power of cold water.

Almost two years on, the pandemic has still left many feeling anxious and nervous about the ‘new normal’. But for some, the pan

Food for fuel: Foods to eat before and after your swim to improve performance

Choosing the right food before and after swimming can have a huge impact on both your performance and your body’s ability to recover faster. Here is

When is the best time to eat?

Experts recommend that you have your pre-swim meal at least one hour before your swim. T

Check out the newest top 10 reasons to take up OPEN WATER SWIMMING - Courtesy of Adam Walker

Physical activity can have a positive impact on mental health regardless of age or ability. Swimming is a great all round exercise which will make you feel stronger and healthier. It benefits the whole body and its an ideal way to strengthen your muscles. The benefits of swimming goes beyond just the physical benefits it is also hugely beneficial for your mental health. 

If you're looking to improve your swimming technique, have a watch of our training videos, all of which feature James Goddard. James is an award winning British competitive and backstroke swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA world championships and European championships. He swam for England in the Commonwealth Games and also runs regular swim training camps throughout Europe.

We've included 6 swimming technique videos that will help you improve your stroke. From freestyle (front crawl), freestyle breathing and tumble turns to mastering that breaststroke,

According to a new study from YouGov, commissioned by Swim England, swimming significantly reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression for 1.4 million adults in Britain. Almost half a million of these adults (492,000) say swimming has resulted in fewer visits to a medical professional regarding their mental health. It was also revealed 490,000 people have either stopped or reduced medication for their mental health condition because of swimming.