Bromsgrove Swimming Club gets 'invaluable' funding to help it recover from the Covid pandemic - The Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove Swimming Club gets 'invaluable' funding to help it recover from the Covid pandemic

Bromsgrove Editorial 25th Mar, 2021   0

BROMSGROVE Swimming Club has received vital funding to help it recover from the pandemic.

The cash is from the Swimathon Foundation’s second Covid-19 Relief Fund, announced in February to mitigate loss of income whilst pools were closed.

The community-based, inclusive club has historically offered opportunities to all – from learners to swimmers competing in national competitions.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the club has been subsidising fees and offering fee holidays, while the head coach has waived his fee in recent months to help the club stay afloat.




Through the Swimathon Foundation grant, the club will be able to put required safeguarding measures in place to allow reopening to a larger capacity and thus an increased membership availability.

Matthew Lowe, head coach at the club, said: “This funding is invaluable.


“We’re not a ‘big’ club, so any money coming in or going out means so much to us.

“Our committee and coaching team are all volunteers, so we managed to keep costs down during lockdown, but the limit to capacity upon reopening is the biggest challenge.

“Pool time got a whole lot more expensive, and as a club, we decided that we’d subsidise fees as much as possible for members.

“We’ve stayed in touch with our members on a daily basis, and our coaches have met regularly and done lots of CPD.

“We’ve learned so much about the sport, ourselves and our members this year, and now we just want to get back to what we do best – helping our members swim fast.”

The Swimathon Foundation has awarded grants to 148 swimming and aquatic clubs, schools, and organisations from its 2021 Covid-19 Relief Fund.

The Foundation launched its first Fund in May 2020 in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the swimming community across Britain.

Having awarded £50,000 of grants from the first fund to over 100 organisations and individuals last year, it realised additional support was required and released a further £30,000 to aid the swimming community.

In total just over 250 organisations/individuals have been supported through the two funds.

Anthony Kendall OBE, Chair of Swimathon Foundation said: “In these difficult times for all swimming organisations, Swimathon Foundation has been determined to play its part in supporting those smaller, local groups that are the foundation of swimming participation throughout the UK.

“We have been taken aback by the number of people who need help during these unprecedented times and that is why we have increased our overall donation to £50,000.

“Swimming is a vital community activity and we are proud to play our part. Hopefully this funding means Bromsgrove Swimming Club can continue their great work.”

Swimathon Foundation’s main pool-based ‘Swimathon’ has raised over £50million for charities since it was started some 33 years ago.

‘Swimathon’ is the UK’s biggest pool-based recreational swimming event.

It takes place annually at some 600 pools across the UK and some 750,000 people have taken part since the first event in 1986.

As a result of coronavirus, this year’s event is now scheduled to take place later in the year.

For more information about The Swimathon Foundation, visit www.swimathonfoundation.org.

Visit bromsgrovesc.co.uk for more on Bromsgrove Swimming Club.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Bromsgrove Standard newspaper

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts