The challenge that started with one member #SeriouslySocial 

What does community actually look like? 

Sometimes, it starts with someone asking: what if we did this together? 

That’s how Edinburgh Leisure’s Victorian Pool Crawl began — sparked in sauna conversations between regular swimmers at Leith Victoria Swim Centre.

What started as a small, self-organised challenge with 13 participants in 2025 has grown into something much bigger.

This April, 61 swimmers took on the Pool Crawl — walking 16km and swimming 5km across Edinburgh’s five historic Victorian pools — raising more than £40,000 for Active Communities. 

But the distance and fundraising total only tell part of the story.

The Pool Crawl is rooted in the communities these pools serve. For many, they are more than buildings — they are familiar places, shaped by routine, connection and shared experience over generations. 

The challenge gave participants a reason to step beyond their usual pool, moving across the city from Dalry to Portobello, experiencing the character of each venue while taking part in something uniquely Edinburgh.

This year, members, volunteers, colleagues and partners came together to grow that idea into something that builds community and creates real opportunities for others.

Behind the £40,000 raised are stories like Marek returning to inspire others, Tamsin achieving something she never thought possible, and volunteers like Frederick who sees first-hand how being active can reduce isolation and improve lives.

The money raised now supports around 14,700 people each year through Active Communities — helping those facing barriers such as health conditions, disability and poverty to become more active. 

Because community is about more than taking part.

It’s about people coming together, creating something bigger than themselves, and opening up opportunities for others.

Feeling inspired?