| Physical activity can improve the quality of life and delay further cognitive decline in people with dementia, and swimming in particular improves physical function and psychological well-being. However, people with dementia, can find attending swimming pools daunting. This 3-year funded project aims to enhance the swimming provision and experience of those living with dementia, by working in partnership with local authorities and a range of public health professionals, carers and community groups to create a network of dementia-friendly swimming pools across England. Year 1 has involved councils in Durham and Manchester as pilot sites. Local advisory panels with relevant charities and agencies have guided the development of models of delivery to fit local needs. A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation scheme has also been developed. Year 2 will see the project expanded to five further sites and in Year 3, using lessons learned, the aim is scheme adoption in over 100 local authorities. A multi-method action-research approach to evaluation is being implemented that maximizes progressive learning and includes a) centralised audit of participant recruitment and retention, b) case studies that detail emergent models and identify facilitators and barriers to sustainable delivery, c) qualitative research with participants and their carers to assess personal challenges and benefits, and d) a pre-post comparison group health economics assessment of effectiveness. This is a unique top down intervention that provides flexible support and guidance to local authorities to modify their swimming provision for a particularly health needy population. Findings may have relevance to similar approaches to increasing activity. The Dementia Friendly Swimming Project was one of 30 voluntary sector projects to be awarded a grant in 2014 by the Department of Health’s Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund (IESD)