Triathlon England, Swim England, Swim Wales, and Welsh Triathlon have announced a new partnership to expand and enhance the Beyond Swim programme – a national initiative designed to ensure outdoor swimming across England and Wales is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.
The partnership, unveiled at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs in Cardiff this autumn, brings together four of the UK’s leading aquatic and multisport organisations in a coordinated effort to support swimmers, develop safe venues, and grow participation in outdoor swimming. This strengthened partnership will allow National Governing Bodies to share expertise, provide consistent national guidance, and advocate collectively for improved safety standards across the sector.
Beyond Swim provides a national accreditation programme that supports outdoor swimming venues to meet rigorous safety and operational standards. Developed with industry experts including RLSS UK, Swim England, the University of Portsmouth and a range of experienced organisers, the programme offers two levels of accreditation:
Self-Declared Accreditation – venues confirm they meet minimum safety expectations.
Endorsed Accreditation – a full review by Beyond Swim’s technical team, acting as a critical friend to help venues strengthen their procedures.
Fergus Feeney, Chief Executive Officer, Swim Wales, said:
“This partnership strengthens our commitment to making outdoor swimming safer, more accessible, and more sustainable. Through this collaboration, we can drive meaningful change and inspire more people to enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of open-water swimming.”
Amy Hall, Director of Community and Sport Development, Triathlon England, said:
“Outdoor swimming has enormous physical, mental, and social benefits. By uniting our organisations behind Beyond Swim, we can ensure more people have safe and welcoming places to swim, and we can strengthen our collective voice around water quality and access.”
Helen Marney, Director of Community Participation and Health, Swim England, said:
“By joining forces, we’re creating a united approach to outdoor swimming safety and accessibility across England and Wales. This partnership allows us to share expertise, provide consistent national guidance and advocate for the highest safety standards. Together, we want to give swimmers the confidence to enjoy the water, knowing that venues and practices meet the very best standards.”
Catherine Roberts, CEO, Welsh Triathlon, said:
“As a triathlete and open water swimmer, I know first-hand how vital it is to have safe and accessible places to swim. Outdoor swimming is not only a gateway for people to discover our sport, but it’s also essential for athletes to train confidently. This partnership strengthens our ability to create environments where everyone – from beginners to seasoned competitors – can enjoy the water safely and sustainably.
At the launch, representatives from each organisation were joined by partners from Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, local swimming and triathlon club representatives, and members of the outdoor swimming community. Attendees heard from a panel of experts and athletes on the transformative benefits of outdoor swimming, the importance of industry collaboration, and the critical need for improved safety and water-quality standards.
Watch this video that captured the launch event and spoke to organisational leaders and partners:
Alongside the Clean Water Sports Alliance (CWSA), Beyond Swim plays an increasingly important role in supporting venues, operators and swimmers to better understand and monitor water quality.
Through this partnership, the organisations will collectively engage water companies, regulators, and landowners to unlock more safe, well-managed blue spaces, champion cleaner water for recreational use and ensure swimmers have confidence in both venue safety and water quality.
Find out more at beyondswim.org.
