Lampton Leisure has teamed up again with the Institute of Swimming to launch its second Swimming Teachers' Academy in a bid to address the swimming teacher shortage, which means local children are missing out on learning to swim.

The Academy will offer local people the chance to retrain and embark on a career as a swimming teacher for just £79 - a fraction of the usual £1000 training cost. There are no educational restrictions to entering the training, and you don't need to be an expert swimmer either.

Lampton Leisure is looking to train and recruit 12 further swimming teachers across Hounslow at its leisure centres, Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre & Library, Isleworth Leisure Centre & Library, Heston Pools & Fitness and New Chiswick Pool. Being a swimming teacher offers flexible hours that might suit someone who is looking for additional income, students and the retired. The key hours of work are in the afternoon from 4pm-7pm and at the weekends. Once fully qualified the hourly rate is £18.08.

The Academy hopes to address the stark warning from the national governing body, Swim England, that half a million children in England are currently missing out on learning to swim due to staff shortages. A Swim England survey of swimming pool operators, owners and swim schools found more than four in five are struggling to meet the demand for swimming lessons.

Natasha Stevens, Divisional Swim Coordinator, Lampton Leisure says: "We are passionate about delivering high quality swimming lessons for our community, and are currently providing lessons for around 7000 children a week, as well as teaching 2500 children for their school national curriculum swimming lessons. The candidates from our last training academy with the Institute of Swimming are now part-way through their training, but we still have more enquiries for lessons than our programme can deliver. Like many other operators, a lack of teachers means we also struggle to cover swimming teachers' holidays and sickness. We would love to sustain and then expand our programme, but we can only do this if we have the trained teachers.

"By offering funded training opportunities through the recruitment academy, we aim to find people who might be looking for a new job. Teaching swimming is extremely rewarding, with Swim England data showing that 96% of UK swimming teachers love their job. Teaching swimming has flexible hours, that might suit someone who wants to supplement their existing income or to work around their caring or studying responsibilities. We are looking to attract new people into the sector who may not have considered teaching swimming as a career opportunity.

"The comprehensive training with the Institute of Swimming and pool-side work experience ensures our lessons are safe, fun and engaging for all our pupils to learn this invaluable life skill."

LeAnne, 19, who is currently part way through her training with the Institute of Swimming and is gaining her volunteering work experience at Chiswick New Pool says: "I am currently on a gap year and training to be a swimming teacher is a big opportunity for me, as I can take this qualification with me where ever I go to study, and work part time around my studies and during college holidays too."

Jacqueline, 57, who is also retraining and gaining her volunteering work experience at Chiswick New Pool says: "I was a stay-at-home mum and as my children got older, I wanted some part time work that fits around my therapy and jewellery making business. Before this training opportunity, I was thinking of doing retail, but I didn't think it was for me due to the long hours and being on my feet all day. I can make teaching swimming a long-term forever job as it will adapt with me at whatever stage of life I am in. I love to see the children progress in their lessons and that brings me great happiness."

The Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for just £79 and takes them through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification. The usual cost of these two courses is £1000. In addition to the training, applicants will need to volunteer for 20 hours to give them pool-side experience.

Anyone interested should complete an online form by 12th March 2023. To find out more or fill in the application form visit: https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/hounslow-swimming-teacher-recruitment-academy/