YOUNG people in the Wee County are being urged to follow in the footsteps of a Clacks Commonwealth and Olympic Games medal hero.

September marked Learn to Swim Month with many providers rolling out a four-week celebration of swimming and with role models such as Duncan Scott championing the programme as ambassadors.

The month also celebrated the important role of swimming teachers with people encouraged to consider entering a career in coaching.

The Learn to Swim Framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water, delivered by local authorities, leisure trusts and aquatic providers across Scotland – has already seen more than 100,000 young Scots take part in swimming lessons and is targeting another 100,000 by 2025, in a bid to create a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers.

Brian Lironi, director of corporate affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Our ambition for the Learn to Swim programme is to create an enduring legacy for Scotland that will help build a nation of happier, healthier and safer young people who fulfil their potential in and out of the pool.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy Scotland’s rivers, lochs, reservoirs and shorelines safely and with confidence – so it’s brilliant to have a month dedicated to such a fundamental life skill.”

A total of 36 leisure trusts and aquatic providers are now welcoming children back after the summer holidays in more than 160 pools.

In the Wee County, children could join Alloa Swimming Club, who currently train at the University of Stirling.

Dollar Phins, a non-competitive learn to swim club, also hosts sessions at Dollar Academy on Wednesday evenings.

Meanwhile, a temporary pool is set to be hired by Clackmannanshire Council while detailed designs for the wellbeing hub are being developed.

In the wider area, Active Stirling is listed as part of the Learn to Swim Framework.

Euan Lowe, chief executive officer at Scottish Swimming, said: “Learning to swim is a life skill and it’s so important for everyone to learn how to be confident and safe in the water.

“A Learn to Swim month digital toolkit has been sent to all providers and a series of promotional videos are being created to help encourage more children into the programme.

“We are aiming to reduce the barriers to any child learning to swim so we’re delighted to have a month dedicated to the initiative.”

Visit learntoswim.scot for more information.