Curing Asians of aquaphobia
INCLUSION STRATEGIES NEEDED, SAY EXPERTS
AROUND nine in 10 British Asian adults and three-quarters of Asian children do not swim, according to a new TV documentary.
The data has led to diversity experts calling on the sport’s authorities to do more to engage with the south Asian community.
Some 93 per cent of Asian adults do not swim, while the figure is 78 per cent for Asian children, according to figures from Sport England in a Sky Sports documentary called Aquaphobia revolving around inequalities in the sport.
Arun Kang, the chief executive of charity Sporting Equals, said its research found there were many reasons for Asian adults feeling like swimming was closed off to them.
He told Eastern Eye: “Key themes we found were the cost, a lack of sensitivity to faith-based and cultural needs, suitable facilities and a lack of awareness that swimming is for them [Asians] too.
“We believe that Asians need to see swimming as a tangible career path. This is achieved through greater representation in the workforce, cultural sensitivity training for staff, women-only swimming sessions – and where possible lead by women.”
Harmander Singh worked with Sporting Equals on its recent survey on swimming participation. The social policy expert, from east London, said: “There are cultural factors. [Some] Asian women are conditioned to not be uncovered in a public place. A lot of local authorities did women-only swim sessions.
“In Redbridge, they are reopening a lido in Valentines Park, and there was a promise to open more pools. But there is a cost issue.”
In France, women wearing a niqab or burqa which fully covers the face and body in a public space including pools face a €150 (£129) fine.
Last summer, the country’s top administrative court upheld an existing ban on women wearing the one-piece full-body clothing [called a burkini] in public swimming pools.
Singh added: “How many black or Asian people do you see in the Olympic Games? There is a lack of role models. There is an issue in France of refusing to let Muslim women to wear their single leotard [burqini] while swimming. The fact that governing bodies were against changing the rules does not inspire people. There is this disconnect of not engaging with ethnic minorities.”
Meanwhile, separate research from Sport England has found that eight per cent of Asian adults have participated in swimming at least once in the past year. For Asian youngsters, seven per cent took part once a week or more in swimming.
A Swim England spokesperson told Eastern Eye it recognises that ethnically diverse communities are under-represented across aquatics and the sector is working to change this.
Earlier this year, it launched the England Swims campaign, the first step of its plan to determine the actions and interventions required to improve the situation in partnership with others.
The spokesperson added: “It targeted members of south Asian, black African, black Caribbean and East Asian communities who could swim but choose not to, as well as those who cannot swim at all.
“England Swims was one of the largest diversity pieces of insight throughout the sport and leisure sector. It has revealed key data which will allow us to conduct more specific, focused research and initiatives to help get ethnically diverse communities active in the water.
“The findings are also helping to shape our new 10-year strategy, which will be our most ambitious yet in terms increasing diversity across aquatics.
“We believe our new strategy can break down the barriers which have existed for so long and help so many more develop a lifelong love of the water.”
Sport England has a strategy called Uniting the Movement which aims to tackle inequalities and break down barriers that communities face in their access to getting active. Among the groups it works with is Saheli Hub in Birmingham.
Elsewhere, the World Health Organisation says drowning was one of the leading causes of deaths globally among young people.
The Royal Life Saving Society is among the organisations driving inclusion in aquatics and teaching people lifesaving skills.
Bhavik Barochia, a volunteer for the society in Windsor, Berkshire, said: “Learning to swim is a life skill, something that people very rarely forget. Neither of my parents were swimmers, they were never taught. It is quite a big jump forward sending a child to do something very unknown and different from what you experienced yourself growing up. The barriers are slowly breaking down.”
Siona Mistry, another volunteer in Windsor, said: “My favourite thing is the sense of community in the club. You get taught the basics when you are younger. As you are older, you can soon apply those skills that you learnt to towing people and learning the procedures that you need.”