OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether is the first corporate-funded partnership to provide inclusive coaching and specialised equipment for water safety classes for 100 persons with disabilities

Mr Craig Nicholson, Head of World Para Swimming; Mr Ow Yong Weng Leong, Managing Director, Group Brand and Communications, OCBC; Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment; Dr. Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President of Singapore Disability Sports Council.
From left, front row: Mr Toh Wei Soong, Singapore Paralympian; Sharachandra S/O Morlitharan, participant of OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether programme.

Singapore, 4 October 2025 – OCBC and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) launched the nation-first water safety programme curated for persons with disabilities (PWDs) - “OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether”. 800 free lessons will be made available for 100 PWDs across 12 months. Each participant will undergo eight swimming lessons each over a three-month period.

$70,000 of funding will be used to cover the costs to engage certified coaches, procure specialised equipment designed to support PWDs, and book suitable venues – including heated pools and facilities with accessible entry points, which are essential for some participants. Transport will be provided at no cost for individuals with high dependency or accessibility needs.

A 2023 survey by Sport Singapore found that less than half of PWDs participates in regular physical activity, compared to close to 80% of regular population. Currently, there is no structured foundational swimming programme for PWDs, largely due to the high cost of hiring certified coaches, lack of suitable equipment and limited accessible sports facilities. Additionally, arranging suitable transportation can be costly and troublesome. All these barriers discourage families of PWDs from enrolling them into swimming lessons.

Ms. Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, was present at today’s launch event at Little Splashes Aquatics at Enabling Village, where Mr Ow Yong Weng Leong, Managing Director, Group Brand & Communications, OCBC, and Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) announced the start of this partnership.

Certified coaches and specialised equipment

The classes under “OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether” are taught by certified coaches. These classes focus on water safety, which encompasses water confidence and basic swimming skills. They are also trained to identify their needs based on their varying levels of disability and provide the best possible learning experience and environment for the participants. OCBC staff volunteers will help at selected events across the year to provide additional support.

Specialised swimming devices will be made available for coaches to use. These devices include weighted swim floats and adaptive life jackets which can be used by participants with low muscle tone and muscular dystrophy. This further enhances comfort and increases their confidence during lessons.

Suitable locations and transportation

When navigating the water, PWDs can experience a sense of calm, improved circulation and freedom of movement that is often limited on land. For selected participants, classes are conducted in heated pools as swimming in non-heated pools may result in them experiencing painful muscle contractions and rigidity. This scenario can be dangerous given the participants’ already-limited range of motion.

Additionally, these locations are selected due to their inclusive features such as tactile flooring, wheelchair ramps and accessible changing and showering facilities. Participants with high dependency or accessibility needs can request for free two-way transportation. These requests will be accessed by SDSC, and successful applicants will enjoy the free service throughout their participation in OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether programme.

Selection of participants into the programme

Each class consist of two to five students, which ensures a safe coach-to student ratio with the necessary supervision granted to each participant. At the end of the programme, participants would have attained a good level of water-confidence and learned basic swimming strokes or simply benefit from being engaged in a form of physical activity throughout the programme.

Interested participants can contact SDSC by emailing them at community@sdsc.org.sg for more information. SDSC will also work with special education schools, day activity centres and residential homes to identify suitable participants.

Ms Koh Ching Ching, Head of Group Brand & Communications, OCBC, said: “Swimming is an important life skill especially for us living on an Island. But the world is not fully designed with people with disabilities in mind. For them to step into a pool can be filled with countless hidden barriers. We hope that ‘OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether’ will help make swimming a little less daunting for them.”

As Singapore’s national sports body for persons with disabilities, SDSC brings its deep expertise and grassroots network to the table, ensuring that no one is left behind. The collaboration also supports SDSC’s vision: transforming the lives of persons with disabilities through sport.

Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President of Singapore Disability Sports Council said, “Inclusivity begins with intentional design — in our programmes, our partnerships, and our priorities. Through OCBC-SDSC SwimTogether, we are not only creating access, but also building a foundation for confidence, community, and future possibilities in sport. With the right support, what begins as a first swim lesson could one day lead to representing the nation. We are heartened by OCBC’s belief in this vision to empower persons of all abilities to experience and enjoy the joy and challenge of sport. We hope more Singaporeans, donors and sponsors will come alongside us to build a sporting ecosystem where no one is left behind.”