Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Funding for Free Swim Lessons for Residents of All Ages 

Boston — In an effort to increase access to swimming lessons and enhance water safety, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced it has awarded 14 organizations throughout the state a total of up to $372,000 to provide free beginner swimming lessons to Massachusetts residents of all ages.   

The funding is being awarded through DCR’s Safe Water Initiative Massachusetts (SWIM) program. Contracts were awarded to organizations whose instructors hold Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification, or industry equivalent, and preference was given to applicants that serve environmental justice communities.    

“Every Massachusetts resident deserves access to healthy, fun recreational opportunities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Swimming is a life skill, and our residents shouldn’t have to miss out on opportunities to learn to swim because of financial burdens. This funding we are providing to partner organizations helps ensure more residents have an opportunity to take lessons.”  

“As a former lifeguard, I know how important it is to provide a fun and safe environment at our beaches and pools, and one of the best ways is ensuring people of all ages know how to swim,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “DCR provides free swim lessons to hundreds of children every year, and the SWIM program helps us expand these lessons to everyone, particularly in environmental justice communities.”  

“With our summers getting hotter, our pools and shorelines provide an opportunity for families to escape the heat and cool off,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This program not only ensures more people can safely swim, but it creates equity as the climate crisis drives up temperatures in urban areas.”  

“The SWIM program enables DCR, working with partners, to provide opportunities for communities to offer free swim lessons to residents of all ages and from all backgrounds,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “DCR is committed to ensuring our pools and waterfronts are as safe as possible for people to enjoy as they seek relief from the summer heat, and ensuring people have access to swim lessons is an important way we can keep our swimming areas safe.”  

The following organizations were awarded SWIM funding:  

• Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham;  
• Boys and Girls Club of Metro South;  
• Charles River Aquatics, Inc. in Wellesley;  
• British Swim School of Worcester;  
• Hockamock area YMCA in Franklin;  
• Merrimack Valley YMCA in Lawrence;  
• MetroWest YMCA in Framingham;  
• Old Colony YMCA in Brockton;  
• British Swim School of North Shore in Reading;  
• West Suburban YMCA in Newton;  
• YMCA of Greater Boston;  
• YMCA of Metro North in Peabody;  
• YMCA of the North Shore in Beverly; and  
• YWCA Central Massachusetts Inc. in Worcester. 

“At Charles River Aquatics (CRA) we believe that knowing how to swim is an essential life skill that everyone should possess for safe, lifelong enjoyment of the water,” said Laurie Bufano, chief external affairs officer, Charles River Aquatics at Wellesley. “Working with the DCR on the Water Safety Initiative allows us to broaden our reach--developing strong, confident, safe swimmers ready for summer fun ahead.”  

“As a mission-driven organization that’s primarily focused on reducing drownings, we are proud to partner with the state to offer state-funded water survival education to anyone, regardless of age and ability,” said Danny Bolivar, franchise owner, British Swim School of Worcester. “So far, we have 89 families in the program, and this helps us achieve our common goal. With the summer already here, we also practice what to do in an emergency in our survival events.,”   

“At the Y, we are committed to reducing the inequities that prevent children from gaining access to life-saving swim lessons,” said Jessica Murray, Association Aquatics Director at the YMCA of Metro North in Peabody. Partnerships, like with DCR, help us provide more free swim lessons to ensure children have the knowledge and skills to stay safe in the water.”   

“The YMCA of the North Shore is proud to partner with DCR to offer free beginner swim lessons to the 200 preschoolers in our Early Learning Centers as part of their standard childcare enrichment experience - eliminating the time, transportation, and financial barriers that often prevent families from enrolling in swim classes on their own,” said Greg MacKillop Jr., YMCA of the North Shore Chief Operations Officer. “These grant funds will play an important role in helping our Y achieve one of our top priorities - ensuring that every child aged 3 to 5 in our care learns the invaluable life skills of swimming and safety around water.”   

In addition to the SWIM program, DCR has implemented several measures to create a safer environment for visitors to the state’s public beaches and pools. Ahead of the opening of DCR’s inland and coastal beaches last weekend, DCR held an event at Revere Beach, urging the public to take precautions when on or near waterfronts or pool facilities. These precautions include only swimming at or within designated swimming areas, not swimming beyond your skillset, and keeping a close eye on children near the water. During the summer months, the agency conducts regular water quality testing, uses ropes and buoys to mark safe swimming areas, displayed safety signage that can be translated into multiple languages – including Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Mandarin, and Russian – using a QR code, and installed life rings at all 81 of the agency’s designated swimming areas and other key locations for the public to use in the event of an emergency.    

In addition to the SWIM program, DCR provides free swimming lessons to children from four to 12-years-old, which are offered every summer through the agency’s Learn to Swim program at select agency-managed pools. Last summer, DCR provided free swimming lessons to over 700 young people at 19 agency swimming pools over three, two-week sessions. DCR will open sign-ups for its Learn to Swim program in the coming weeks. SWIM significantly expands the Learn to Swim program by reaching more residents in more communities across the Commonwealth, with a central focus on expanding access to swimming lessons for those most in need.  

For more information on how to sign up for free swimming lessons under the SWIM program, contact the award recipients. 

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