Mamma Swim community group for London mums
THE STORY DETAILS:
What: Mamma Swim
When: June - October 2023
Where: North east London swim spots
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Community swimming for mums in North East London
Mamma Swim saved me during my second maternity leave. I had a baby that didn’t sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time during the night, and the world felt broken by a pandemic and war. I was exhausted, anxious, and isolated. With it being my second baby, I didn’t have that ready made group of pals from NCT to call on, and I knew I had to do something for my own sanity. I have always loved swimming - it has always been part of my routine, and kept me moving during uncomfortable pregnancies - and when I heard about Mamma Swim, it seemed like the perfect group for me to get involved in.
Mamma Swim is that rare, beautiful thing of true community. The group is entirely volunteer-led, and the premise is simple; mums with 0-2 year olds meet up on the side of a pool or reservoir, and take turns to look after each other’s babies so that each gets to swim, alone, for twenty magical minutes. An activity that is for the mums, not the babies, and a chance to get some exercise and help clear your mind. Of course, you also get to meet lots of other local mums who just ‘get’ the phase that you’re in. No judgement, just lots of empathy and advice and a bit of cheerleading just when you need it. And when the babes are a bit older, mums can join the Sunday swim at West Res too - no kids, just mums together having a breather and a swim.
Bridget and co-founder Abi, photographed at Parliament Hill Lido
One serendipitous day, I met Bridget - one of the founders of Mamma Swim - in the shower at London Fields Lido. I was calling to my son, and she said ‘oh that’s my son’s name too’ and we started chatting. When I started waxing lyrical about Mamma Swim, she said ‘that’s me! I did that!’. Long story short, we connected on Instagram, met for a coffee, and I volunteered my services as a thank you for what Mamma Swim had meant to me. I knew Bridget and Abi were working towards Mamma Swim becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC), and I knew that some professional imagery would help them pursue their goals.
Swim joy!
My remit was simple: to capture ‘swim joy’ - the focus was to be the mums, not the babies. What was much more difficult was that this would not be set up as a shoot with people posing for portraits. Instead, I think I’ll call it ‘documentary portraiture’. The plan was I would go along to some normal swim sessions, the mums organising and swimming as usual, and I would capture portraits as mums headed to get in the pool or were getting out. Seems simple, but it actually required paying a lot of attention to everything that was happening all at once! I needed to give mums the space to have their swim, and capture them quickly so I didn’t disturb their precious alone time.
The first shoot was a double session day at London Fields Lido in June - a gloriously warm day, with over twenty mums coming to swim over the two sessions. I found myself running around the pool catching mums heading for the showers, and calling for them to show me their ‘swim joy’ faces! There was such a difference in feeling between the shots captured pre swim, and the shots captured post swim - the feel good hormones pumping post swim gave everyone an evident glow, and the joy is there for all to see. No posing required, it just needed me to make sure I was in the right place at the right time!
Further Mamma Swim Babies sessions followed at West Reservoir (a very wet July day that left everyone thankful for the indoor space for the little ones!), Park Road Lido (sunshine and showers, catching us out!) and Parliament Hill Lido. I got to meet lots of awesome mums who trusted me to capture them in a doubly vulnerable time - as a new mum, and in a swimsuit. I am so grateful for everyone being supportive of the project and doing their bit to support Mamma Swim.
Finally, I got to join a Sunday Swim at West Reservoir. This is the mum-only swim where you really see the power of mums having some down time just to themselves. I joined the group on a gloriously sunny but cold autumn day in October, and needed the hot tea myself to keep my hands working! You can feel the camaraderie between the mums as coats are held, tea is poured and the home made treats are passed around in Tupperware. I am looking forward to joining these swims now spring is here - I am not a total cold water convert just yet!
Want to get involved? Click here to find out how to join the Mamma Swim sessions, and maybe I’ll see you at the lido soon!
Mamma Swim Babies sessions currently take place at London Fields Lido (my second home), West Reservoir, Parliament Hill Lido, and Park Road Lido. You can join Mamma Swim Sunday Swim (without children) at West Reservoir on Sundays all year round.
With thanks to Hackney Council and all the swimming venues for granting permits for photography for these shoots.
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