New partnership between World of Swimming and XelaGroup

World of Swimming, which operates across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and Sussex, has teamed up with bus and coach operator XelaGroup to help schools access swimming lessons more easily by providing dedicated transport to and from pools.

Many schools say finding reliable and affordable transport is one of the biggest obstacles to offering swimming lessons.

World of Swimming has teamed up with bus and coach operator XelaGroup. (Image: World of Swimming)

To promote the scheme, a branded coach has been touring events and family destinations across the South over the summer holidays to raise awareness of water safety and the importance of swim education.

Chris Rees, founder and director of World of Swimming, said: "Every summer we see the same pattern – as soon as the holidays begin, families are out enjoying open water, and every year we're reminded how vital it is that children have real water confidence and safety skills, not just the ability to swim a length of the pool.

"With water safety being placed within wider personal safety learning in schools from September, there's never been a more important time to bring practical swimming and safety education together.

"Too many schools want to give their pupils that grounding but are held back by the logistics of getting them to the pool.

"This partnership removes that barrier and means we can reach hundreds more children each year with lessons that could genuinely save their lives."

Chris Rees, founder and director of World of Swimming, and Philip Blair, commercial manager at XelaGroup. (Image: World of Swimming)

Swimming and water safety are already part of the National Curriculum, but plans coming into effect from September 2026 will see these topics reinforced within the broader personal safety learning.

Under the new partnership, the two companies aim to deliver National Curriculum swimming lessons to more than 900 children each year for the next three years.

Philip Blair, commercial manager at XelaGroup, said: "Cost and transport are consistently the biggest barriers preventing schools from giving children access to swimming lessons, and that's exactly the challenge we’re looking to solve.

"We’re proud to be working with World of Swimming to provide an affordable, reliable transport solution.

"The summer bus tour has already helped raise awareness of water safety with thousands of families ahead of the new school year, and we’re looking forward to working with schools come September."

Schools interested in curriculum swimming transport or swimming lessons can find out more by visiting worldofswimming.co.uk.