Drowning in Disparity
- Sonia Brown MBE
- Jan 16
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 26
For many, swimming is a rite of passage—a joyful, carefree activity that combines play with skill. But for countless children of colour, it’s an inaccessible privilege, shrouded in barriers that are as invisible as they are insidious. These barriers, rooted in systemic bias and neglect, create a stark reality where the simple act of swimming becomes an unattainable dream.
This is not just about missing out on recreation; it’s about survival. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children, and yet the preventable loss of life disproportionately affects children from minority ethnic backgrounds. Why? The answers lie in the systems that fail them—systems that perpetuate inequality, deny access and ignore the cultural and economic realities of these communities.
In the following article, we delve into the critical challenges minority ethnic children face in accessing swimming education and the life-saving skills it provides. We’ll explore the ripple effects of this exclusion, from public health to cultural identity and highlight the grassroots innovators and organisations working to turn the tide.
Let’s dive in.
The Ripple Effect of Neglect
Imagine standing at the edge of a pool, the water inviting yet unfamiliar. For many children, this is where their love for swimming begins. But for others, particularly children from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, that pool often represents something far more sinister: the stark reminder of exclusion, fear, and, at its most tragic, mortality.
Between 2019 and 2022, child drowning rates in England surged by an alarming 85%. For children of Black or Black British ethnicity, the risk of drowning is 3.5 times higher than for White children. These aren’t just numbers; they are lives lost due to systemic failures, societal neglect, and cultural barriers that make something as fundamental as learning to swim a privilege instead of a right.
The conversation isn’t about swim parties or recreation; it’s about survival. Water safety is a basic life skill, yet for BAME children, the barriers to acquiring it are as deep as the oceans that take their lives.
Bias in the Pool: A Story Too Familiar
Joanne Blake’s story is a microcosm of a much larger issue. Diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure, her doctor prescribed swimming—not as a pastime, but as a means to save her life. Yet Joanne quickly found herself battling not just her condition but a systemic bias embedded in the world of aquatics.
The mainstream swim caps available to her were designed for straight, fine hair, and they failed repeatedly to accommodate her voluminous, natural Afro-textured hair. Each trip to the pool left her hair exposed to chlorine, resulting in dryness, breakage and frustration. Joanne’s struggle highlights the quiet resistance many Black children face—not just in the pool, but in a system that continually excludes them.
For Black children, hair is not just a personal feature; it is a cultural identifier, often laden with history and significance. Yet, in swimming, it becomes an overlooked challenge. Afro-textured hair is uniquely susceptible to damage from chlorine, making hair care a significant barrier to swimming participation. The absence of inclusive swim gear further alienates children who are already underrepresented in aquatic sports and water safety education.
This bias isn’t just anecdotal—it’s institutional. In 2021, the Tokyo Olympics exposed this inequity on a global scale when the International Swimming Federation (FINA) banned the use of Soul Cap, a swim cap specifically designed for Afro hair. The justification? The cap didn’t "follow the natural form of the head." The backlash was immediate and widespread, with athletes, activists and organisations calling out the decision as a glaring example of systemic bias in competitive swimming. Although FINA eventually reversed the decision, the damage was done. The ban sent a clear message to millions of Black athletes and aspiring swimmers worldwide: You don’t belong here.
This incident wasn’t just about a swim cap; it symbolised how deeply embedded bias is in the institutions that govern sports, education and public health. When the world’s most prestigious sporting body could so easily dismiss the needs of an entire demographic, it begged the question: How much more systemic exclusion exists at the grassroots level?
The Deep Divide: Why BAME Children Are at Greater Risk
Swimming is not just a sport; it’s a life-saving skill. Yet for children from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, the barriers to accessing this skill are both structural and cultural. So, let’s look at this in greater detail.
1. Access Denied: The Collapse of Local Swimming Infrastructure
Decades of austerity and underfunding have hollowed out public swimming facilities across the UK, disproportionately affecting deprived areas where many BAME families live. Local swimming pools, once vital community hubs, have been closed, forcing families to travel miles—if they can afford to—for lessons. This systemic neglect reflects a deeper issue: the undervaluation of public resources in marginalised communities.
Where has the funding gone? Local Councils, strapped for cash, often prioritise other pressing needs over maintaining pools. National funding for swimming programmes remains woefully inadequate, with no targeted interventions for communities most at risk of drowning.
2. The Curriculum Gap: Education Failing the Marginalized
Swimming is part of the national curriculum in the UK, yet thousands of children leave school each year without ever stepping into a pool. Schools in underfunded areas, many serving BAME populations, lack the resources or time to prioritise swimming amidst competing academic pressures.
A child’s ability to swim—or even their exposure to water safety education—now depends largely on their socioeconomic status. For Black and Asian children, this curriculum gap represents not just inequality, but a direct threat to their safety.
3. Cultural Disconnect: A Legacy of Trauma and Exclusion
The fear of water is pervasive in many minority communities, rooted in generational trauma and lack of access. For some, this fear stems from lived experiences of water-related tragedies; for others, it is inherited from parents who never had the opportunity to learn to swim.
When parents perceive swimming as recreational rather than essential, children are less likely to learn this critical skill. Changing this narrative requires a cultural shift—one that recognises swimming as a vital, life-saving competency.
4. Economic Barriers: The Price of Survival
Private lessons, transportation to distant pools and the cost of appropriate swim gear are prohibitive for many families in deprived areas. Even innovative solutions, like Joanne Blake’s Swimscarf, can remain out of reach for those facing financial hardship. When survival skills become a luxury, the system has failed its most vulnerable.
What’s at Stake?
The tragic death of Shukri Abdi in 2019 underscores the devastating consequences of systemic failures in ensuring water safety for BAME children. Shukri, a 12-year-old Somali refugee in the UK, drowned in the River Irwell while accompanied by peers. Her mother had previously reported incidents of bullying, raising concerns about the circumstances leading to Shukri's death. An inquest concluded her death was accidental, but the case sparked widespread protests and highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by minority children in unfamiliar environments.
This incident is not isolated. Recent data from the National Child Mortality Database reveals that child drowning deaths in England have doubled over the past four years, with children from minority ethnic groups and deprived areas being disproportionately affected.
Beyond the immediate risk of drowning, BAME children often miss out on the broader benefits of swimming, including improved physical and mental health, opportunities for sports scholarship and the development of confidence and resilience. Economic barriers, cultural disconnects, and systemic biases further exacerbate these disparities, leaving many BAME children without access to essential swimming skills and opportunities.
Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including policy reforms to ensure equitable access to swimming education; community engagement to shift cultural narratives and increased representation in aquatic sports. By confronting these challenges head-on, we can work towards a future where every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy the associated benefits.
Rising Above the Current: What’s Being Done
While the challenges are undeniably significant, there is hope on the horizon. Across the UK and beyond, a growing movement of organisations, individuals and communities are working tirelessly to address the disparities in swimming education and access. These initiatives not only tackle immediate barriers but also aim to create a cultural shift that redefines swimming as a vital and inclusive skill for all.
1. The Black Swimming Association (BSA): A Catalyst for Change
The Black Swimming Association (BSA) has emerged as a trailblazer in addressing the systemic inequities faced by BAME communities in aquatics. Through their ground-breaking initiative, #OurSwimStory, they amplify the voices of over 1,400 individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds to uncover the root causes of underrepresentation and drowning risks.
Their research goes beyond statistics; it identifies cultural, economic and systemic barriers and offers actionable recommendations. For instance, they advocate for the inclusion of culturally sensitive water safety education in schools and call for the diversification of lifeguards, swimming coaches and aquatic role models. Their work doesn’t stop at raising awareness; it actively collaborates with government agencies, educational institutions, and grassroots organisations to turn insights into action.
In addition, the BSA’s events, such as the #OurSwimStory launches in London and Cardiff, bring stakeholders together to tackle these issues head-on. These gatherings are not just about discussion—they’re about commitment, with policymakers, sports councils and community leaders pledging to prioritise equity in aquatics.
2. Grassroots Innovators: Joanne Blake and the Swimscarf
Joanne Blake’s Swimscarf exemplifies how innovation can break down barriers. Her creation addresses a specific and often-overlooked problem: the exclusion of swimmers with Afro-textured hair. By designing a swim cap that is both functional and culturally sensitive, she has opened the door for thousands of Black women and children to feel confident and included in aquatic spaces.
But Joanne’s work extends beyond the product itself. She has become an advocate for inclusivity in swimming, using her platform to shed light on the biases that exclude BAME communities from pools. Her story is a powerful reminder that grassroots innovation can catalyse systemic change.
3. The Black Tri Tribe: Building a Community Around Aquatics
The Black Tri Tribe is reimagining what inclusion looks like in the world of triathlons, swimming, and outdoor sports. As the UK’s first triathlon club specifically designed for people of colour, they provide not only access to swimming but also a sense of belonging. Their initiatives—coached swim sessions, guided hikes and triathlon events—are breaking stereotypes and encouraging participation in activities often viewed as inaccessible to minority communities.
The Tribe’s emphasis on building confidence and camaraderie is transforming hesitant beginners into passionate swimmers and athletes. Their mission is clear: to increase representation in outdoor sports and foster a supportive community that inspires others to join.
4. Advocacy and Awareness: Fighting Institutional Bias
The global outrage following the Tokyo Olympics’ ban on Soul Cap sparked a long-overdue conversation about institutional bias in competitive swimming. While the ban was ultimately reversed, it underscored the need for systemic change. Organisations like Swim England are now being challenged to reassess their policies and practices to ensure they are truly inclusive.
Similarly, campaigns like World Drowning Prevention Day, spearheaded by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), have shone a spotlight on the disproportionate drowning rates among minority ethnic children. These campaigns push for policy reforms, such as mandatory water safety education in schools and increased funding for local swimming facilities, particularly in underserved areas.
5. Community-Led Solutions: Empowering Local Change
Community groups are also stepping up to bridge the gap. From parent-led swimming initiatives to local charities offering subsidised lessons, these grassroots efforts play a critical role in expanding access to aquatics. For instance:
Swimming for All: A London-based charity that offers free or low-cost swimming lessons to children from low-income families, with a focus on minority communities.
AfroSwim Kids: A programme that combines swimming lessons with cultural education, helping children connect with water in a way that feels empowering and safe.
These community-driven solutions demonstrate that change doesn’t have to come solely from the top—it can start with neighbours, parent and local leaders committed to making a difference.
Creating a Sustainable Future
The work being done by these organisations and individuals is inspiring, but it is just the beginning. For real, lasting change, these efforts must be scaled and supported at every level—government, corporate and community. Funding, policy reforms and public awareness campaigns must work hand-in-hand with grassroots initiatives to ensure that no child is excluded from learning to swim.
Through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, the tide is beginning to turn. These leaders are proving that while the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. Together, they are rising above the current to create a future where swimming is not a privilege, but a right for all.
What Must Change?
The water does not discriminate, but our systems do. For far too long, systemic barriers, cultural disconnects, and institutional neglect have excluded BAME communities from accessing the life-saving skill of swimming. The result is not just statistical inequality but preventable tragedies that rob families of their children and communities of their future. This exclusion is about more than just sports or recreation—it is about survival, health and opportunity.
Swimming is not a luxury. It is a fundamental life skill, a vital tool for safety and a gateway to physical and mental well-being. Yet, for millions of children in the UK, particularly those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, learning to swim remains a distant dream. The gaps in access, representation and education are not accidental; they are the result of policy choices, cultural neglect and economic disparities that can and must be addressed.
To create a world where no child drowns due to systemic inequities, decisive action is needed at every level. This is not just a task for families or local communities; it is a collective responsibility for governments, educational institutions, community organisations and even private enterprises. It requires bold leadership, innovative thinking and a commitment to dismantling the barriers that have kept swimming out of reach for too many.
Here’s how we can rise to the challenge:
Policy Reform
Governments must acknowledge swimming as a non-negotiable component of public education and public health. It’s not enough to leave swimming education as an underfunded requirement in the national curriculum. Schools must be equipped with the resources to provide high-quality, accessible lessons for all children. This means increased funding for schools in deprived areas, partnerships with local swimming facilities, and subsidies to ensure no child is excluded due to cost.
Additionally, the decline in community pools must be addressed. Local authorities should prioritise the revitalisation of swimming facilities, particularly in underserved areas, to ensure every child has access to a safe and welcoming environment to learn.
Community Engagement
The narrative around swimming must shift within BAME communities, where cultural, historical and economic factors have contributed to a lack of engagement. For many families, swimming has long been viewed as optional or inaccessible, rather than essential. To change this, parents and caregivers need support to overcome their own fears or lack of knowledge about swimming.
Community programmes should focus on outreach, education and confidence-building, encouraging families to see swimming not just as a recreational activity but as a critical life skill. This cultural shift will require partnerships with trusted community leaders, faith groups and grassroots organisations to make the message resonate.
Representation Matters
Children need to see themselves in the spaces they aspire to occupy. Organisations like Swim England and the International Swimming Federation must take intentional steps to diversify their staff, leadership and marketing. Representation matters not only in creating a sense of belonging but also in challenging the systemic biases that have long excluded BAME communities from aquatics.
Hiring more BAME coaches, lifeguards and instructors is a start, but it must be coupled with visible campaigns that celebrate diversity in swimming. Advertising and outreach should feature people from a range of ethnic backgrounds, breaking the stereotype that swimming is not for everyone.
Innovation and Collaboration
Grassroots innovators like Joanne Blake, with her Swimscarf, have shown how simple yet effective solutions can break down barriers. These efforts must be supported, scaled and integrated into broader strategies. Collaboration between local governments, schools and community organisations can create sustainable, community-cantered solutions that address specific local needs.
At the same time, technological innovations—like affordable, culturally appropriate swimwear—must be promoted and made accessible to families who need them most. Partnerships with businesses and philanthropists can drive these efforts forward, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to progress.
This is not a matter of "if" change is possible—it is about "when" and "how" we make it happen. Every delay will cost lives, perpetuates inequality and deepens the divide between those who can and cannot access the water. By addressing these challenges head-on, we can create a future where swimming is not a privilege for the few but a right for all.
The time to act is now. Will you rise to the challenge?
A Future Worth Fighting For
Imagine a future where no child is left vulnerable to drowning simply because of their background. A world where swimming is as accessible and universal as literacy. This isn’t just a vision—it’s a necessity. The work being done by individuals and organisations, like Joanne Blake with her Swimscarf and the Black Swimming Association, is inspiring. But it’s only the beginning.
Real, lasting change requires these efforts to be scaled and supported at every level—government, corporate and community. Funding, policy reforms and public awareness campaigns must work hand-in-hand with grassroots initiatives to ensure that no child is excluded from learning this life-saving skill.
Joanne Blake’s words resonate deeply: “Swimming isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life.” Let’s ensure that life includes everyone. Through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, the tide is beginning to turn. These leaders are proving that while the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable.
Visit Joanne Blakes to learn how you can support this movement. Together, we can rise above the current and create a future where swimming is not a privilege, but a right for all.
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