The Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) is a company that was set up in 2006 by
Kate Rew
(Anna) Kate Rew (born 11 September 1970) is an English journalist and author who founded the Outdoor Swimming Society. Rew lives in Frome, Somerset.
Early life
Rew grew up on her family's dairy farm in Devon, where she developed her love of wild ...
, author of ''Wild Swim''.
The OSS website has information about wild swimming safety and access in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. The OSS aims to encourage people to rediscover the joys of swimming in open, wild water - rivers, lakes, lochs, tarns, ponds, seas.
In 2009, the OSS announced that it was founding a Wild Swimmers' Code, similar in spirit to
The Country Code, to encourage safe swimming in wild water. The OSS is engaged in campaigning to keep outdoor lidos and pools open, and to keep seas and rivers clean and swimmable.
Outdoor Swimming Society members arrange regular meet-ups around the country. Masterclasses with swim coaches are also held round the country.
In 2006/7 the OSS ran the Breaststrokes charity swims in
Windermere
Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Windermere Lake to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere) is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles (18 km) in length, and almost 1 mile (1.5 km) at its wides ...
and the
Serpentine, which raised over £150,000 for Cancer Research. The OSS' patrons are Olympic gold medallist
Cassie Patten and the author
Robert Macfarlane.
References
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{{reflist
External links
OSS websiteOSS Wild Swimming Map
Swimming organisations based in the United Kingdom