Targeted Free Swimming for Women, Girls, and Older Adults in Tower Hamlets: A RE-AIM Evaluation Study Protocol
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Background
Residents of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets experience higher levels of inactivity than national averages, with particularly low participation among women, girls, older adults, and people living in deprived communities. In response, Tower Hamlets launched a targeted free-swimming programme in July 2024, providing free swimming sessions, lessons, coaching clinics, and planned childcare support across four leisure centres. The programme aims to reduce barriers to physical activity, increase participation among underserved groups, and promote health equity. This evaluation seeks to assess the programme’s reach, implementation, acceptability, effectiveness, and sustainability.
Methods
A mixed-methods evaluation guided by the RE-AIM framework will assess the reach, implementation, acceptability, and effectiveness of the Tower Hamlets free-swimming programme. Quantitative analysis of routine registration and attendance data will examine participant characteristics, programme uptake, and engagement patterns. Qualitative interviews and focus groups with programme users, non-users, and delivery staff will explore experiences, barriers, facilitators, and perceived impacts. Quantitative and qualitative findings will be triangulated to provide a comprehensive understanding of programme delivery and outcomes.
Expected Outcome
The evaluation is expected to generate evidence on the extent to which the programme engages priority populations, including women, girls, and older men. It is anticipated that the study will identify factors influencing programme uptake and sustained engagement, including cultural appropriateness, accessibility, and implementation processes. The evaluation will also provide insights into perceived impacts on physical activity, wellbeing, social connectedness, swimming confidence, and health inequalities. Furthermore, the study is expected to identify the programme components most valued by participants, including free access, women-only sessions, swimming lessons, coaching opportunities, and childcare provision.
Implication policy and practice
The findings will provide actionable evidence to support local authority decision-making regarding the refinement, continuation, and potential expansion of the free-swimming programme. The study will contribute to the evidence base on place-based physical activity interventions designed to address health inequalities in diverse urban populations. For policymakers, the evaluation will offer insights into how subsidised leisure services can improve access to physical activity, enhance community wellbeing, and promote equitable participation among underserved groups.
