A YORK swimming pool has been chosen as one of only 12 pilot sites across the UK to host a ‘Swim 400m Family Challenge.’

The aim of the challenge at Energise in Acomb, working in partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association, is to get families swimming on a regular basis in an all-inclusive swimming event.

Organisers said lessons learnt from the pilots will help to shape and refine the concept ahead of a national launch in spring next year.

“The challenge sets a progressive goal which swimmers can either work towards, or see an improvement week on week - encouraging non-swimmers to get into the water and current swimmers to swim more,” said a spokesman.

“Children can practise what they have learnt in their swimming lessons, and the parents can try and keep up.

“All the families have to do is download the free ‘Just Swim’ app created by the ASA. The app has two simple functions of goal setting and swim logging providing swimmers with the ability to track their progress on number of swims, distance covered, calories burned and time. Swim 400m is a pre-set goal within the app.”

The sessions have been created to encourage families to come to either Saturday or Sunday 3.30pm-5.30pm

Paul Downes, area swim manager from the ASA, said staff at Energise had ‘fully embraced the concept of Swim 400 Family Challenge.’

He said: “We would like to engage with families from the York area on this pilot, so the challenge is to bring the family to Energise, Swim your 400m in a relay and then log your time through the free Just Swim app.”