The sessions are aimed at men who have never learned to swim, as well as those who feel nervous in, or near, water and would like help overcoming their fears.
We have been running a similar programme aimed at black women in Nottingham, ‘Swim Sista Swim’, for the past two years. In that time, the award-winning programme has seen more than 150 women taking to the water for the first time, with some going on to compete in national paddling competitions and others volunteering on the city’s waterways.
Creating a safe space
Research from the World Health Organisation shows that members of the black community are statistically at greater risk of drowning. At the same time, black men are underrepresented in the water‑based wellbeing activities run by the Trust, which range from towpath walks to canoeing and paddleboarding.
By creating a space that is designed specifically with black men in mind, we hope that ‘Mandem Swim’ will help more people feel that local waterways are somewhere they can relax, be active and spend time with friends and family. Time by water has been shown to support both physical and mental health, so increasing confidence around water could bring longer‑term wellbeing benefits for those taking part.
The swimming lessons will be formed of small group sessions led by qualified instructors. Alongside time in the pool, there will be opportunities to talk about some of the reasons that can put black men off swimming or taking part in water‑based activities – from past experiences to worries about safety or feeling out of place.
Over the course of the programme, participants will be encouraged to build up their skills and confidence so that spending time by water feels enjoyable rather than intimidating. For those who want to, there will also be chances to try other activities linked to the city’s canals and rivers, such as paddleboarding, canoeing or volunteering.
Building confidence step-by-step
Carol Burrell, our community wellbeing coordinator, said: “We know that our canals and rivers can have a really positive effect on how people feel, but people need to feel comfortable being near the water in the first place. For lots of black men, learning to swim or even just being around water hasn’t always felt welcoming or accessible.
“With ‘Mandem Swim’ we want to change that by creating a space that feels safe, supportive and designed for them. It’s about building confidence step-by-step so that men can enjoy being in the water and spend more time by their local waterways.
“We’re extremely grateful to Sport England for supporting our work in Nottingham and we’d really encourage men who might have thought swimming wasn’t for them to get in touch and give it a try.”
Black men in Nottingham who would like to take part can self‑refer by contacting Carol Burrell at [email protected]. Places are limited and will be offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
