Two Telford and Wrekin residents were recognised for their inspiration in encouraging others to swim when they went to the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Manchester last week.

On the 10 April, a number of Everyday Swim ‘champions’ from across the country are being recognised for their inspiration in encouraging others to swim.  

Everyday Swim Co-ordinator, Matt Shields, had been asked by Telford and Wrekin Disability forum to put on an event for disabled people to give them an improved access to swimming.

Two swimmers from the area were hailed as ‘Everyday Swim Champions’ following their sheer determination to improve their swimming skills through participation in the sessions organised in the area.

Yvonne Richardson wanted to be able to swim more regularly, and the Everyday Swim project made this possible for her.

Yvonne than began to bring a friend along to the sessions. Marion Sheppard joined her, and they continue to encourage more people to get involved in the sessions.

Everyday Swim provided a swimming instructor to help improve technique and as a
guide in the water. 

The pair both require Guide Dogs, and their trips to the pool was made easier when Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre reception staff said they would take care of animals while they were in the water.

Originally this was behind the reception desk, but now there are two dogs the centre has installed a loop in the wall, inside the centre, so that they can be left securely.

Yvonne and Marion had not been swimming for years and through the support of the Everyday Swim project providing an understanding teacher in a supportive environment they both have gained the confidence and ability to swim.

Yvonne was keen to explain juts how much progress Marion and herself have made.

“Neither of us had been swimming for over 15 years and as our eye-sight has deteriorated we thought we wouldn't be able to swim again,” said Yvonne.

“You can imagine our delight to be proven wrong. Both of us have noticed how swimming is
improving our health. Marion's arthritis and stamina have improved and in regards mine, I have lost nearly 4 1/2 stone, my breathing has improved. I feel fitter and I have more stamina,”

“The best thing about being able to swim again is that we can have fun the same as everybody else. None of this would be possible though without the help and support of others,” she said.

“We would like to say a big thank you to Matt Shields (Everyday Swim Co-ordinator) for instigating it, the Manager and staff at Wellington Leisure Centre for their tireless help, support and installation of a safe area for our Guide Dogs,”

“Lastly we would like to give our special thanks to Anne Staples (teacher) for her time, wonderful support and encouragement both in and out of the pool but most of all her sense of humour and patience with putting up with us two!”

As part of their reward, Yvonne and Marion joined a number of others affected by Everyday Swim attended a session of the World Swimming Championships (25m) in Manchester.

The 10 April was ‘Health Day’ at the championships, which aimed to raise the profile of swimming at all levels and show that swimming can provide a key part of a healthy lifestyle.

“We both had a brilliant time when we attended the Swimming Championships at Manchester. The noise, the smells, the crowds and the atmosphere was electric, which enabled us to really enjoy the day,” commented Yvonne.

“Everyone was so kind and helpful, not only to us but to our dogs as well, which added to the enjoyment of the day as we were able to forget about our disability. The highlight of the day was meeting Duncan Goodhew, who we were extremely impressed by, he is a remarkable man and a wonderful ambassador for swimming,”

-ENDS-

Telford and Wrekin offer specific lessons for disabled swimmers for more information visit
www.everydayswim.org or contact matt Shields on 01952 382604.

Adult Disability Lessons
Mondays – 6:00-6:30pm at Oakengates leisure centre (tel: 01952 382810)
Thursdays – 7:00-7:30pm at Madeley Court Sports centre (tel 01952 382766)

Junior Disability Lessons
Mondays – 4:00-4:30pm at Madeley Court Sports centre (tel 01952 382766)
Mondays - 5:30-6:00pm at Oakengates leisure centre (tel: 01952 382810)
Thursdays – 5:00-5:30pm at Newport Swimming pool (tel: 01952 382742)
Saturdays – 12:00-12:30pm at Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre

For more information contact ASA Media Assistant Stephanie West on 01509 632236, 07917 876 459, or email stephanie.west@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
www.britishswimming.org

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An independent Interim Report released today on the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) Everyday Swim programme contains significant findings for the sport and activity industries.

The three-year Everyday Swim project set out to attract unprecedented numbers of new, regular swimmers to the pool by bringing about a culture change in the way swimming is delivered to serve the needs of today’s customers. 

Pilot projects from each region come together to capture learning, share good practice and benefit from economies of scale. Everyday Swim is led by the ASA and is jointly funded by Sport England and local partners. 

The report highlights successes in improving the delivery of swimming. There have been numerous examples of lives being changed by local projects improving access or support at facilities to allow people to take the plunge. 

For example, Yvonne Richardson from Telford is visually impaired and is now swimming regularly with an instructor to help with technique in the water thanks to new disability sessions. 

Reception staff take care of the guide dogs using a newly installed loop in the wall to tie the dogs securely. Through swimming and healthy eating Yvonne has lost 4 stone. 

Sally Scott from County Durham has also lost weight and improved her fitness having taken up the offer of a poolside ‘personal trainer’ at the pool in Peterlee. 

With one in five people in the UK unable to swim, residents in Suffolk who cannot swim have overcome their fear of the water to learn in later life. 

Many have gone on to encourage other family members and friends to take to the water. The information from diaries kept by the swimmers is being used nationally to help pools improve provision for adult learners.  
 
The report demonstrates that the Everyday Swim has achieved some key milestones on the path to culture change, such as developing effective partnerships between neighbouring pool providers, unparalleled investment in workforce development and community engagement, and changes in swimwear and admission policies to remove some of the barriers to swimming. 

Much of this success has been very hard won and progress should not be underestimated. 

Nevertheless, the report makes clear the scale of change still needed, both within the swimming industry, and among those who fund, inform, and regulate it if significant participation increases are to be realised.

Swimming has the highest participation rate of any activity apart from walking with 14% (5.6 million) of adults swimming regularly in England alone. 

It also has the highest level of latent demand with much of the demand coming from groups under-represented in sports participation. 

Swimming has a critical role in driving activity levels up in a way that can impact on the nation’s health and sporting excellence.

The report highlights the need for greater engagement from national and local partners to cut red tape and challenge well established policies and practices to better accommodate the needs and aspirations of the 86% of people who do not swim.

Kate Sargant Swimming Activity Manager at the ASA leads on the project was keen to comment on the findings.

“Everyday Swim enjoys national recognition for its focus on driving real and sustained increases in participation rather than short term interventions to bring about fleeting increases in pool admission rates,”

“The Interim Report highlights the successes which have been achieved through the tireless work of the Everyday Swim Coordinators and local partners,” said Sargant.

“The report also clearly sets out the challenges for industry going forward and I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure that everyone involved plays their part and reaps the rewards of greater participation levels.”       

The Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University was jointly commissioned by the ASA and Sport England to undertake the monitoring and evaluation of Everyday Swim, and staff from SIRC have been working closely with the local pilot areas from the outset.  

The SIRC team have undertaken invaluable secondary analysis of existing data on swimming.

The intelligence that this has provided on swimming participation has informed the direction of the projects on the ground. The Interim Report includes the findings on current participation and approaches needed to ensure success.  

The findings from the report will now be used to inform the remaining months of the project (Everyday Swim in its current format is set to run to December 2008) and to develop the project beyond 2008 to ensure the huge opportunity of Everyday Swim is maximised by the industry and that we see many more lives and communities changed for the better through swimming.   

ASA Chief Executive, David Sparkes was keen to comment on the effect of Everyday Swim to date.

“The outcomes of Everyday Swim report are encouraging and shows there has been a culture change in the delivery of swimming which can drive new customers into the pool,”

“There is still much to be done if we are to change the way in which the industry works but we have shown that this can be achieved.”

To view the report, please CLICK HERE.

-ENDS-

For more information contact ASA Media Assistant Stephanie West on 01509 632236, 07917 876 459, or email stephanie.west@swimming.org

Everyday Swim
Everyday Swim is a national pilot project, led by the Amateur Swimming Association and funded by Sport England, which aims to break down the barriers to swimming and provide best practice examples to be used across the country. Sport England has committed to invest £3m into Everyday Swim over a three-year period.

Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew is the Everyday Swim Ambassador.

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
www.britishswimming.org