National Champion Swimmer Brings New Swim School to East County, San Diego
By Jacob Brown
November 30, 2023
November 30, 2023
British Swim School teaches lifesaving skills for students of all ages in the greater El Cajon area
British Swim School, the nation’s leading “learn to swim” franchise company, continues its rapid expansion across North America with the opening of its newest franchise location in El Cajon. The first pool of British Swim School of Greater El Cajon is conveniently located off R-67 and I-15 at 24 Hour Fitness – El Cajon. Lessons will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting November 7. Leading this new venture are Alicia Grima and Kayla Meadows, lead aquatics instructor. Both women bring a rich history and a profound love for the water to the swim school. Grima, a former national champion swimmer who swam for UC Berkeley and in the Olympic trials, sees this venture as a full-circle moment. “Swimming has been a transformative journey for me, right from my first lesson when I was 18 months old,” said Alicia. “It’s a life skill, and I’m thrilled to help instill this in the children of our community through the exceptional curriculum of British Swim School.” For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission — ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Across the nation, eleven people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isn’t limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either can’t swim or don’t have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency. With nearly a decade of swim instructor experience, Meadows has seen a variety of swim lesson approaches. The emphasis on safety is what drew Meadows to British Swim School. Especially with the diverse community of East County San Diego, introducing kids to the water is critical. El Cajon is home to a significant population of Iraq war refugees and boasts the second-highest population of Chaldeans in the U.S.“I have parents approach me all the time asking where they can send their kids to swim lessons in the area, and until now, I didn’t have an answer,” said Kayla, lead aquatic instructor of British Swim School of Greater El Cajon. “I’m overjoyed that we’re filling this gap. The emphasis British Swim School places on safety is unparalleled, making it a vital addition to our community,”This new location serves the areas of El Cajon, Lake Murray, Fletcher Hills, Bostonia, Hillsdale, and Casa De Oro-Mount Helix. The ownership team plans to expand south in the next year with a second location in Southeast San Diego County.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alicia and Kayla to our British Swim School family,” said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School President. “Their swim lesson experiences and dedication to water safety education aligns perfectly with our core values. We can’t wait to see their impact on East County residents.”For more information about British Swim School, visit www.britishswimschool.com. To learn more about the benefits of British Swim School’s franchising opportunities, click here.
