ReCreation is the powerful vision of Olympic athletes Steve Parry MBE, Adrian Turner, and Rebecca Adlington OBE, who set out to create a lasting legacy beyond their Olympic medal success. Drawing on their elite-level training and shared passion for swimming, they were determined to tackle a pressing issue – far too many children in the UK were leaving primary school unable to swim.
In the years following the 2004 Athens Olympics, Steve Parry and Adrian Turner were moved by the shocking reality that nearly a third of children were unable to meet the National Curriculum requirement of swimming 25 meters by the end of primary school. Rather than accept this status quo, they developed a radical solution: why not bring the pool to the pupils?
Pools 4 Schools was launched in 2005 under the company Total Swimming. Designed to provide temporary mobile swimming pools, constructed inside school halls and assembled in just three to four days, these pools provided a much-needed swimming opportunity for underserved communities for up to six weeks – dramatically expanding access to swimming lessons for children.
Rebecca Adlington later joined forces with Steve Parry and Adrian Turner, bringing her own imprint and energy to the mission – furthering the drive to make swim instruction accessible and fun for thousands of children.
Despite the success of Pools 4 Schools, the reality remained that a short-term solution would only ever impact a small number of children – for Steve, Adrian and Becky, this didn’t solve the problem.
Over time, the team’s ambition and reputation grew. Their Olympian-led initiative evolved into a more comprehensive, long-term approach through ReCreation Group – a company dedicated to engineering affordable, turnkey leisure and swim facilities across the UK. Maintaining its core vision to ‘Revolutionise Swimming and Change Lives’, ReCreation harnesses innovative, above-ground pool design, enabling full-scale leisure facilities to be built in months, not years, at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint of traditional in-ground construction; ultimately helping more children to access water and learn to swim for generations.
This innovation isn’t just practical, it’s purpose-driven. The founders’ mission remains rooted in a core belief that access to sports facilities breaks down barriers and empowers young people to reach their full potential. A reality Steve, Adrian and Becky experienced personally and one that they passionately advocate for through their work in the sector.
At its heart, ReCreation is about enabling access – giving more children the chance to learn to swim, fostering confidence, inclusivity, and a healthier, safer generation.
ReCreation Group embodies the journey of three Olympic athletes who turned their spotlight into social good. What began as a creative mobile solution to teach children to swim has matured into a bold, innovative and much-needed solution in the sector.
Founded by Olympic swimmers Adrian Turner, Steve Parry and Rebecca Adlington, ReCreation Group is redefining the way the UK builds leisure. We fuse elite aquatic heritage with cutting-edge construction methods to deliver affordable, efficient and inspiring facilities where movement, health and community thrive.
