Community challenge shortlisted after raising over £45,000 to help older adults and people living with dementia stay active and connected.
Edinburgh Leisure’s Victorian Pool Crawl has been recognised as a finalist in the Best Use of Event or Community Fundraising Initiative category at the Scottish Fundraising Awards 2026, celebrating a community challenge that turned one memorable day of swimming and walking into lasting support for people across the capital.
The recognition comes as entries open for the 2027 Victorian Pool Crawl, inviting a new group of participants to take on the city-wide challenge and raise money for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme.
In April 2026, 61 swimmers completed the challenge, walking 16 kilometres through the city and swimming a total of five kilometres across Dalry, Warrender, Glenogle, Leith Victoria and Portobello Victorian pools.
Together with sponsors and supporters, they raised over £40,000 for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme.
The funds are helping people across Edinburgh stay active, build confidence and connect with others. Of the total raised, £22,000 was allocated to Ageing Well, helping older adults maintain their independence and wellbeing, and £22,000 to Movement for Memories, which works with people living with dementia or early-stage memory loss, as well as their carers. The remainder is supporting other Active Communities projects where it is needed most.
For 98-year-old June, Ageing Well helped her return to swimming after many years away from the pool. With the reassurance of an Ageing Well buddy volunteer, she now attends twice a week and has regained her confidence in the water.
June said: “I’ve really missed swimming, so I was excited to get back in the water. The water frees you up – you can move in ways you can’t on land.”
Rachael McCrea, Head of Fundraising at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “We are proud to see the Victorian Pool Crawl recognised alongside such strong fundraising initiatives from across Scotland. This recognition belongs to everyone who made the event possible – from the swimmers and volunteers to the sponsors, donors, partners and colleagues who brought so much energy to the day.
“What matters most is what their efforts have made possible. The money raised is helping people like June return to activities they love, grow in confidence and connect with others. We hope this recognition inspires more people to join us in 2027 and help create more opportunities for people across Edinburgh to be active.”
The Victorian Pool Crawl began in 2025 as an idea from a regular swimmer at Leith Victoria Swim Centre. It has since grown into an Edinburgh-wide community fundraiser celebrating the city’s Victorian swimming heritage while raising money to help people overcome barriers to being active.
Sign Up for 2027
Entries for the 2027 Victorian Pool Crawl are now open.
Participants will walk 16km and swim up to 1km in all five of Edinburgh Leisure’s historic Victorian pools, all in a single day, while fundraising for Active Communities.
Find out more and sign up at:
