Swim Sista Swim Program Provides Safe Space for Black Women to Learn Swimming
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A new 10-week program called Swim Sista Swim offers Black women a dedicated space to learn swimming and water activities, incorporating social workshops and specialist support. The program, which began its first cohort in April 2024, addresses barriers like fear and hair care concerns. Its founder has also launched a similar program for Black men.
Facts First
- A 10-week swimming program for Black women includes 45 minutes of swimming and one hour of gathering workshops.
- The program provides swim hats designed for diverse hair types and incorporates specialists like a psychotherapist and hairstylist.
- Founder Carol Burrell launched a second program for Black men called Mandem Swim on May 11, 2024.
- The Canal and River Trust provides the location for the swimming and subsequent paddling and canoeing activities.
- Research by the Black Swim Association and RNLI has addressed myths regarding Black people's ability to float.
What Happened
Swim Sista Swim, a 10-week program for Black women, began its first cohort in April 2024. The program includes 45 minutes of swimming and one hour of social workshops, with additional activities like rowing and paddle boating. Following the swimming course, participants engage in four weeks of paddling and canoeing on canals. The program incorporates specialists including a psychotherapist, a hairstylist, and a paddle instructor, and provides swim hats made by Soul Cap designed for diverse hair types. Founder Carol Burrell also launched a second program, Mandem Swim, on May 11, 2024, to provide Black men with a safe learning space for water activities.
Why this Matters to you
If you or someone in your community has faced barriers to learning swimming—such as fear stemming from past incidents or concerns about hair care—this program creates a dedicated and supportive environment to overcome them. You may have access to a new local resource for building water confidence and community connection. The expansion of the model to include men suggests these safe learning spaces could become more widely available.
What's Next
The Swim Sista Swim program appears to be establishing a recurring offering, with its first cohort underway. The newly launched Mandem Swim program for Black men may begin to build its own participant base. The incorporation of specialists and tailored equipment suggests the model could be refined and potentially replicated to address swimming access gaps for other groups.