MAY 2023 THE VOICE | 55
Sport
Duo helping to conquer swimming fears head on Visionaries’ SOUL CAP brand aims to improve drowning rate statistics among Black people. By Rodney Hinds
W
ITH BLACK children being three times more likely to drown than white children, SOUL CAP, the swim brand, conducted a series of focus groups looking into the challenges and barriers behind the lack of Black people taking part in swimming both leisurely and professionally. The results of the focus group found that the barriers stopping Black people from swimming or learning to swim centred around a range of issues. These included: • HAIR – The maintenance of Black hair and skin, especially for women. With this being conducive to body confidence, swimming’s daily inconveniences outweigh its long-term reward • FEAR – An inherited fear of water and large bodies of water • PRIDE – Pride and shame of having to learn a new skill while already having the innate belief that swimming is something they just can’t do • MYTHS – Cultural myths about Black people being unable or less able to swim due to physical attributes like bone density • REPRESENTATION – The lack of representation at a professional or personal level leaving no affinity with swimming and undertones of swimming not being a safe space for Black people Within the UK Black community, only four per cent of adults and 21 per cent of kids swim regularly, with only two per cent of all UK swimmers being Black. It’s important that measures are put in place to educate and encourage this community to confront their fears and the stigma head on, get in the water and find the joy in swimming. Now there is pride in the fact that SOUL CAP has now been approved for use in Olympic competition by FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation), supporting Black swimmers’ goals at the
most elite level. SOUL CAP has launched the SWIM PROUD campaign and fund to help increase participation and improve the non-swimmer and drowning rate statistics among Black people. Swimming is an essential survival skill, one that has traditionally been very inaccessible for the Black community to learn due to the many deeply rooted barriers. A crucial first step to overcoming whatever is holding Black people back from learning to swim is the realisation and conviction that swimming is in fact for them too. SOUL CAP want to give the Black community confidence in the water by showing them that the pool is an arena they too can inhabit. SOUL CAP have launched SWIM PROUD in a nationwide campaign and across digital channels. The campaign was created by Octagon, with researched by Studio Exception and is supported by advertising corporation JC Decaux. “We feel there’s no better source to pour into than grassroots – the hard work and dedication we’ve seen from teachers,
IMPACT: SOUL CAP founders Michael Chapman and Toks Ahmed
coaches and athletes behind the scenes inspired us to create The SOUL CAP Foundation,” says co-founder Michael Chapman. “As part of our charity, we’ve created a dedicated Swim Proud Fund to support UK-based projects that create a positive impact on Black swimming. “We’re so proud to be a part of facilitating impact and change
in communities through our platform – we can’t wait to see the projects come to life through this initiative.” According to statistics from Swim England, 95 per cent of Black adults and 80 per cent of Black children have not been swimming in more than a year. The SWIM PROUD Fund is committed to supporting swim-
EXPOSURE: SOUL CAP’s campaign is supported by advertising giant JC Decaux; left, Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing wearing a SOUL CAP
ming programmes, pool access and water-safety initiatives throughout the UK. The fund will help mobilise grassroot initiatives across the UK and provide financial support for swimming equipment, teacher training, swimming education and water safety. Founded in 2017 by Chapman and Toks Ahmed, the Blackowned business has helped over 120,000 swimmers find their fit and has spent the last few years campaigning for greater accessibility in swimming, with an emphasis on swim education and encouraging under-represented communities to learn and compete. Understanding Black swimmers needs, as two men who went from non-swimmers to active swimmers, they took pride in removing an obstacle that stopped Black people from getting in the water, with the launch of their swimming cap designed to fit swimmers with afro, curly, and thicker hair types. Ahmed said: “We became inspired by a story, then our story inspired other stories.
Since launching SOUL CAP in 2017, one of our favourite parts has been connecting with others over their swimming stories and personal relationship with the water. “We love the positive success stories of learning as an adult or going from leisure to competition training – but there’s a reality of deep-rooted barriers that disproportionately block access for Black people to thrive in the water. “It’s been amazing for us to be a part of the research to dig beyond the stats and use conversation to identify the key barriers and specific themes behind the disparity. “By sharing our results, our hopes are for all change-makers in the swim space to have more insight into what areas need responding to. This is a collective problem, and we know the power community has to create change.” Applications for the SWIM PROUD Fund are now open. For details on how to apply, eligibility and T&C’s visit www.soulcap.com
