B.O.S.S is a charitable organisation, working to prevent drowning in the most vulnerable, at risk community in aquatics. 

B.O.S.S focusses on reconnecting people with the water in an effortless and exciting way, bringing new opportunities to engage an under-represented audience and level up in the aquatics industry. The team took a chance during the pandemic and it has been a great success and have even had coverage of their work on BBC’s series ‘This is England’.

Statistics show that only 51% of black children in the UK can swim, compared to 73% for white British children*.

Annalize Butler is the owner and founder of B.O.S.S and has been teaching swimming for 15 years and has worked with RLSS UK throughout 2022, attending Westminster and speaking with MPs to support Drowning Prevention Week.

Annalize Butler, owner and founder of B.O.S.S said,

“I work in an environment where I might be the only black person on the poolside within the whole city. Sources show that in England only two per cent of regular swimmers are from the black community.

“My work and mission is to secure pool time to create safe and inclusive spaces for those from hard to reach backgrounds – black and ethnic minority communities are proportionately more likely to drown and there are a host of other barriers they face which I aim to break down.

“By working with organisations such as RLSS UK, we can actively change the way people think about swimming. B.O.S.S is about reconnecting people with the water in an effortless and exciting way, bringing new opportunities to engage an underrepresented audience and level up in the aquatics industry.

“It is scary how many people are affected by drowning in the black community, and it is my mission to make my community water safe and this partnership with RLSS UK can help achieve that.”

RLSS UK’s strategic framework 2020-2025 includes the pillar, Building our Communities. We want to reach as many people as possible to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy water safely, no matter their background.

RLSS UK hopes that the partnership will see the two charities work together to help underrepresented communities access swimming lessons, water safety education and opportunities in the aquatics and leisure industry.

B.O.S.S Instagram

 

*Source: Swimming data based on being able to swim 25m from Sports England Active Lives Survey 20/21.