Franchised swimming school Water Babies have been awarded a B Corporation™ certificate in recognition of the high business standards that they promote in both social and environmental well-being. The UK-based company were informed of this honour by B Lab, which is the not-for-profit organisation behind the B Corp™ movement.
As a result of receiving this prestigious award, Water Babies will now proudly join a global community of businesses that are meeting high standards of social and environmental impact. Among their many initiatives was the launching of the charitable foundation The Children’s Alliance. This helps to provide water education for as many families as possible.
The charity has developed swimming lessons for children with special educational needs, as well as those with mental health issues. In 2023 Water Babies – through their charity The Children’s Alliance – has been working with the Leigh Trust to provide burkinis and appropriate swimwear to Muslim girls and boys in Birmingham. This will allow Muslim children the opportunity to enjoy water sports with confidence.
Tamsin Brewis of The Children’s Alliance said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support the Leigh Trust. It will be great to witness the impact it will have on families which the trust supports. For example, we’ve met people where none of the women in their family swims. So it’s great to see how the initiative to provide burkinis and towels can make such a difference to communities.
“Swimming is a leveller, and a good way to relax and support a healthy lifestyle. We hope that other similar opportunities will continue to provide a safe and supportive space, along with appropriate clothing for children and young people. And it’s a huge thank-you to Water Babies for their role in this initiative.”
Water Babies, whose head office is in the Devon city of Exeter, teaches lifesaving skills to over 47,000 babies and children each week. The franchise has business partners across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, China and United States. The business is dedicated to giving children a better start to life, and brighter future, both in and out of the pool.
Howard Harrison, chief executive of Water Babies, said: “The recognition bestowed upon us by B Corporation™ is a huge achievement for the business. We’re now part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
“As an industry leader within baby swimming, we have a responsibility to work with our sector to ensure we’re continually improving, while helping to build a better world. Children are at the heart of everything we do, and this B Corp™ certification recognises our commitment to social and environmental issues.
“We are always seeking ways to source sustainable solutions for a better future and our B Corp™ certification is just the beginning of our journey. We have plans in place to ensure we achieve our future goals.”
Water Babies are one of over 1,300 B Corps™ businesses and organisations in the UK alone, which is committed to positively benefiting workers, communities, customers and the planet.
As well as their dedication to providing water education and life skills for youngsters, Water Babies have campaigned at governmental level to promote the health and wellbeing of children.
They have fundraised over £5m for the pregnancy and baby loss charity Tommy’s. And the company has taken the lead in creating more sustainable industry practices to protect the environment.
To find out more about Water Babies B Corp™ certification, please click here.
About Water Babies: Was co-founded by Paul Thompson in 2002. Water Babies is aimed at families of all shapes, sizes and blends who want to give their children the best start in life. Water Babies teaches lifesaving skills, while taking each child on a journey of aquatic discovery, adventure and purposeful play. Adventures are tailored to every stage of a child’s development.
Water Babies recently launched its ‘Oceans of Imagination’ programme aimed at developing core aquatic skills, swimming strokes, and achieving water safety milestones. The programme promotes purposeful play in a friendly, safe and non-judgemental environment.
In the UK, Water Babies has over 50 franchise outlets and around 600 teachers. The company has won numerous national consumer awards and, in December 2022, was ranked fifth in the Elite Franchise Top 100 list of franchised businesses. Water Babies’ teachers are all trained to achieve Swim England’s highest teaching qualification for the under-5s.
Water Babies recently announced that Alice Dearing has become a Global Ambassador for the company. Alice, 26, from Birmingham, was the first black female swimmer to represent Great Britain at world championship level.
Note: B Lab Global has offices in Amsterdam, London, Melbourne, New York, Philadelphia and São Paulo.
