STA Partners with IOA to Support Inaugural #InternationalAquaphobiaDay
STA is proud to announce its official support for the Institute of Aquaphobia (IOA)’s inaugural #InternationalAquaphobiaDay, which is set to take place on Friday, 7th February 2025, and we are encouraging all members and partners to come together on the day and join in with the conversations.
The primary aim of #InternationalAquaphobiaDay is to raise awareness about aquaphobia, and the significant impact it has on individuals, including weak or non-swimmers. IOA’s day will focus on educating the public about the ways in which the aquatics industry can help people overcome these fears through specialist training, ultimately demonstrating the life-changing benefits of gaining water confidence.
In support, STA will be encouraging members and partners to come together on socials to start conversations online, share real-life success stories and utilise the available educational resources to break down barriers to participation.
Dave Candler, STA’s CEO, said; “STA’s support of this initiative aligns with our own charitable objectives of promoting safety, accessibility, and education within grassroots swimming; and with IOA we want to encourage more individuals to seek the help they need to confidently engage with water-related activities.”
“So, let’s come together for #InternationalAquaphobiaDay and show our collective support by starting a conversation online about aquaphobia. As an aquatics community, we have the opportunity to show how we can help individuals overcome their fears and build confidence in the water.”
Mike Burman, founder of the Institute of Aquaphobia (IOA), emphasised the global scale of this issue; “Aquaphobia is a global pandemic that has a direct correlation to water safety. Sometimes it is hard to really take on board just how many millions and millions of people fear water around the world; it is truly staggering. We therefore with STA’s support, want to use #InternationalAquaphobiaDay as a platform for the industry to come together, raise awareness and help people gain the confidence to reach out to us so that we can help overcome their fears in a controlled, safe environment.”
Data collected from Aquaphobia Coaches around the UK and set against the ONS figures.
For more information about #InternationalAquaphobiaDay, follow the conversation on social media using the hashtag #InternationalAquaphobiaDay.
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