Case study - Success of water safety initiative for Asian and Black women leads to ‘ladies only’ sessions

It was a good experience. I felt relaxed. I like to learn more.

I really enjoyed swimming and learned how to float in the water. I want more lessons to be able to swim well.

I’m proud I learned a new skill.

Several water safety programmes targeted at South Asian Muslim and Black women – many of whom have never been swimming before – have helped participants overcome barriers to activity and led to the creation of ‘ladies only’ swimming sessions in Walsall and Wolverhampton. A snapshot of participants' feedback (above) shows some of the impact. 

Sport England’s ‘Let’s Get Out There’ campaign identifies a number of challenges that stop South Asian Muslim and Black women from swimming or taking part in water-based activities, including lack of representation, under-representation, limited childhood exposure, family inexperience, and cultural and religious considerations.

To overcome some of these and equip the women with vital water safety skills, three 10-week programmes were delivered. Two blocks of sessions were held for the Saanjha Womens Group, an Asian women's social and wellbeing group (pictured top right), at Bert Williams Leisure Centre (27 participants). Another course took place for Aspiring Futures CIC – a women-led social enterprise inspiring women to have the confidence, skills and courage to follow their aspirations – at the Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre (24 participants).

The sessions were designed to be fun and welcoming for complete non-swimmers, helping build confidence and increasing the likelihood of continued participation.

How was Active Black Country involved?

Supporting the mission to get more people to lead an active healthy lifestyle, Active Black Country facilitated two of the courses as part of our Get Out Get Active (GOGA) activity, a partnership with Activity Alliance which seeks to engage the least active communities in fun and inclusive ways.

The charity enabled the latest programme involving participants from Saanjha Womens Group using Community Aquatic Development funding, a course which concluded in May.

Following the success of sessions at Bert Williams, WV Active has introduced a ‘ladies only’ swimming instruction session into its weekly programme, held in the studio pool which provides a more private and welcoming space for women to learn how to swim and be safe in and around water.

And following similar work in Walsall with the community group Simple Steps, Walsall Gala Baths has also introduced a ‘ladies only’ swimming session, as well as ‘ladies only’ lessons, taking place in their brine pool.

Key outcomes and impacts

Completing the course: with many participants being non-swimmers, this was a big achievement, especially considering the cultural and personal barriers they had to overcome.

Community-led delivery and partnership working: many Asian women are not provided with the opportunity to go swimming as children. There are also reasons why accessing aquatic activity can be a challenge including finding a suitable pool and/ or session that provides privacy, with a female instructor and/ or lifeguard. The sessions were led by local organisations, ensuring participants were supported by someone who understands their background and experiences. Thanks to strong collaboration with the local leisure operators, they were delivered by instructors who understood the cultural context.

Increased confidence: participants reported feeling more comfortable in the water and more willing to take their children and families swimming.

Social connection is key: Being surrounded by people who look like you, speak your language, or understand your background makes it easier to try something new.

Word of mouth as a powerful tool: In many communities, people are more likely to receive and act on information from someone they know and relate to. It builds trust.

Engagement and high demand: Community groups have expressed interest in similar sessions. This shows the programme is scalable and that there’s a real need for community-led water safety programmes that meet cultural and practical needs.

Key learnings

• Collaboration with partners working with Saanjha Women’s Group and Aspiring Futures made sure the programme was shaped by the people it targeted, meeting cultural and practical needs.
• Trust through representation and partnerships: having trusted community groups helped build relationships and confidence, especially for women who had never been in water before.
• Safe, welcoming environment the sessions were designed to be beginner-friendly and fun, highlighting how important the right environment can be.
• Support for non-swimmers The programme focused specifically on women who had never had the opportunity to swim, building their skills.
• Highlighting local need with 80% of Black Country residents living within a mile of a canal and a lot of children unable to self-rescue, the programme addressed an urgent need to encourage people in the community to learn more about water safety.

Sharing insights

These programmes highlight how crucial culturally sensitive, community-led approaches are to breaking down barriers to physical activity. When sessions are designed with a deep understanding of participants lived experiences – including cultural, religious, and practical considerations, they become much more than just exercise classes. They offer a safe space for learning, connection, and confidence building that can ripple out through families and communities. This approach not only encourages participation among those who might otherwise feel excluded but also creates lasting behavioural change and greater community confidence around water safety.

Working closely with groups like Saanjha Women’s Group and Aspiring Futures rooted the programme in trust, making it easier for women to take the first step into an unfamiliar environment. Crucially, this work offers a blueprint for how inclusive, community-shaped programmes can inform and influence wider system delivery. By listening, adapting, and resourcing local solutions, we can scale this model to meet similar needs across the region. It challenges traditional top-down models of provision and points to a future where programmes are co-designed with the communities they serve, improving reach, impact, and long-term sustainability.