The initiative aims to encourage the UK's existing 13 million swimmers and inspire more to take up the sport, as well as helping to improve water safety and save lives.

Nottingham will be using this national campaign to help create awareness of the importance of swimming and how you can learn a valuable skill and have fun with the family.

Nottingham City Council pools offer general swimming sessions, swimming lessons and aqua fitness classes.

The Nottingham Swim School has recently started a new course of lessons which provides swimming lessons for all age groups from aged 3 years and covers all ability levels.

There are swimming lessons to suits everyone's needs including:Adult and Child; Pre School (3-5 year olds); Beginner - Advanced starting from age 5; Rookie Lifeguard; Adults and One to One lessons.

The Swim School offers lessons for pre-school kids and those aged 5+ in beginner lessons in shallow water pools (with the exception of Portland Leisure Centre) so they feel safe and confident, knowing they can touch the bottom if they need to. The School also has great toys and uses swimming games within the lessons so they are a really fun way to learn to swim.

To find out what swimming activities you can get involved in please call one of the Nottingham City Council pools on:

Please call in to your local Nottingham City Council leisure centre or contact them for further information.

Beechdale Swimming Centre - 0115 9151575
Clifton Leisure Centre - 0115 9152333
John Carroll Leisure Centre - 0115 9151535
Ken Martin Leisure Centre - 0115 9151555 
Portland Leisure Centre - 0115 9150015
Southglade Leisure Centre - 0115 915 1595
Djanogly Community Leisure Centre  - 0115 876 2170

It is believed that a fifth of adults are currently unable to swim, while a fifth of children leave primary school without being able to swim - two statistics that Big Splash aims to change.

British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes said: "The Big Splash is part of our ongoing drive to increase the participation in swimming. It's got fantastic health benefits and it saves lives.

"Working with the pools and the BBC, we expect to see many more people getting active as we move towards the greatest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games, coming to London next year."

For further information please visit The Big Splash