STA and Good Boost have strengthened their partnership with the launch of a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme designed to equip swimming teachers with the knowledge and confidence to support adults with a wide range of health conditions and movement needs.

The new Teaching Swimming for Health and Wellbeing CPD has been developed collaboratively by STA and Good Boost as the latest development in the organisations’ partnership, building on their shared commitment to making swimming more inclusive, accessible and beneficial for people at every stage of life.

As more adults look to swimming to support their health, wellbeing and rehabilitation, there is an increasing need for swimming teachers to understand how to adapt lessons to meet a wider range of physical abilities and movement patterns. The new CPD has been created to help meet that need, providing practical guidance that enables teachers to deliver more personalised and inclusive lessons.

Designed for swimming teachers working with adult participants, the online programme recognises that not every individual can comfortably perform traditional swimming strokes, whether due to age, injury, long-term health conditions or reduced mobility. Instead, it explores how teaching can be adapted to help individuals develop swimming techniques that work with their own bodies, enabling more people to experience the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of being active in the water.

The programme introduces the principles of swimming for health and wellbeing before exploring key teaching considerations, practical teaching strategies and a range of adaptations that can be used to meet individual needs. Upon successful completion, learners will receive one STA CPD point and a downloadable certificate. The programme has no expiry date, allowing teachers to revisit the content whenever required.

The launch builds on the partnership first established in 2024, which brought together STA’s expertise in aquatic education and Good Boost’s work in supporting therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation in the water. Together, the organisations are committed to helping more people benefit from aquatic activity through education, practical resources and professional development opportunities.

Kayle Brightwell, Director of Education at STA, said: “Swimming has enormous potential to improve health and wellbeing throughout life, but to achieve those benefits we must recognise that everybody moves differently. This new CPD gives swimming teachers the knowledge and practical tools to adapt their teaching so more adults can enjoy the water safely, confidently and in a way that works for them.

“This is another important step in our partnership with Good Boost. Together we’re developing practical educational resources that help swimming teachers build their knowledge and confidence, and this CPD is the first of several new initiatives we have planned over the coming months.”

“Suzanne Gabb, COO of Good Boost, said: ‘This CPD is a brilliant next step in our partnership with STA. Swimming is a well-established form of cardiovascular exercise, and research shows that water-based therapy has significant benefits for people with musculoskeletal conditions. Many people find traditional swimming strokes difficult due to the limitations of their MSK conditions.

“By equipping swimming teachers to adapt strokes to individual needs, we open up real cardiovascular benefits to people who may have written swimming off altogether. For many of our Good Boost members, aqua-based exercise is where their activity journey begins. This CPD gives them a natural progression, a way to build on that confidence in the water and stay physically active for the long term.”