Children at risk: inaccessible swimming facilities lead to dangerous beach trips

By Tracy-Lynn Ruiters | Published Jan 10, 2025

Community activist Stanley Jacobs has raised urgent concerns about the lack of accessible swimming facilities, which has forced children as young as seven to travel unsupervised to beaches, often putting their safety at risk. “When pools are closed, children walk long distances to reach beaches. I’ve seen it myself—kids as young as four or five heading to the beach unsupervised because there are no alternatives,” Jacobs said.