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Community is one of the most powerful forces in our society. People supporting people, sharing skills, helping us learn, grow and feel better.
When it comes to swimming, community groups offer everything from adult swimming lessons to accessing the many benefits of wild swimming. But it's much more than organising swimming sessions or lessons - behind the scenes, these groups are changing lives.
One such group is Open Minds Active. A social impact organisation based in Bristol, OMA have quietly created an incredible community that supports people to connect with nature and themselves, and learn swimming skills.
As Deakin & Blue winds down business, it seems only fitting that we end as we began - with our incredible outdoor swimming community. We met Maggy, founder of Open Minds Active; Kiki, who works for OMA as an instructor and coach; Sima, one of OMA's directors; Jayne and Amy, who swim with OMA; and also Lisa who has a walking stick to match each of her D&B swimsuits and swims with another wonderful outdoor swimming organisation, The Bluetits.
Research shows that people who spend time in nature are significantly more likely to say that they feel healthy and satisfied with life than those who don’t. The wellbeing effects of getting into cold water, immersing in the natural world and being a part of a swimming group or community are huge.
At the same time, learning new skills builds confidence. And when we learn water confidence and swimming skills, we gain so much - access to a levelling support that's good for people of all ages and physical abilities and the potential to save our own lives should we fall into water.
And yet, so many people can't access swimming. Reasons include self-consciousness, religious, cultural, social, mental health or financial barriers - or simply not knowing where to go and how to get started.
Recognising the things that stop people from swimming and being in nature means that communities can work out how to overcome the barriers. For example, OMA has worked with local swimming pools and an open water venue to run women-only sessions. The gives women who want or need privacy from men the opportunity to swim.
Another example is the way OMA works with people who are lonely and isolated and can't access groups. By linking with local healthcare providers to take social prescribing patients, people get the support they need to join a supportive group.
"We work with the Muslim community specifically to create safe spaces for women where they can learn to swim. And also we work with different lakes to create safe spaces where women can enjoy swimming outdoors in nature," says Open Mind Active's founder, Maggy Blagrove. "With learning to swim and then accessing outdoor swimming, the community that the women build, particularly for refugees and asylum seekers who might be new to this country, they're forming friendships. They're getting to know a city, they're getting to know their surroundings, and they're having fun, and that helps them settle and feel more connected with each other and also where they live."
The beauty of communities like Open Mind Active's is that its powerful work is far reaching. The community is bursting with stories of women who, having learned to swim can teach their children water confidence. Stories of women of colour who have helped debunk myths around why their communities don't swim, encouraging their friends and family to discover the joy of being in water. And stories of people who've found relief from chronic illness, isolated people who have forged friendships and people whose mental health and wellbeing has improved beyond belief.
"I did Open Minds through their breaststroke to front crawl course," says Amy. "Then hearing about more things they do, I was like, my mum would be a great candidate to swim. I knew anecdotally that there's not very many black people getting get in the water. So now I'll literally go to a black person, 'can you swim?' And to be honest, usually the answer is no or very little, and then I get them to sign up because it's the water plus the community activity that's just an amazing, thing."
Part of what makes swimming communities like Open Minds Active so wonderful for health and wellbeing is that everyone feels included. That is true of so many organised groups like Bluetits and Mental Health Swims, as well as smaller, local groups.
As a swimwear brand built on community, we've made it our business to represent swimmers of all shapes, sizes, ages, races, backgrounds and abilities. When we first set up shop in 2017, that representation was still quite quiet and unseen. But, as outdoor swimming has boomed in popularity - especially during lockdown - that has changed and we're seeing more images and hearing more stories from women in all bodies.
And long may it continue. So, let's support wonderful organisations like Open Minds Active so that they can break down barriers, grow their community and help even more people discover the joy of swimming outdoors.
