Bassetlaw Swim Squad COVID Appeal

About US

BSS is a non-for profit organisation that provides performance swimming to the Bassetlaw district. We work closely with community base clubs to enhance swimming in the community. 

We are the competition outlet for Barnsley Premier Leisure's Swim Training Squad, in Bassetlaw. The Performance Squad ensures swimmers represent their local community club up to county championship level and train locally up to 10 times each week when striving for national and international success. And through the guidance and mentoring of our experienced Swim England-qualified coaches, swimmers are encouraged to attain their full potential, and be the best that they can be.

We have links with the University of Lincoln as our closest Higher Education provider. We aim to be at the forefront of sport science to enhance performance.

BSS is supported by DR. Alex Brown, Registered Nutritionist. Dr Brown has experience working with British Swimming Championship finalists, England Squash and elite Rugby Union teams as well as University Sports Teams.

We also have an associate Strength & Conditioning Coach, David Jakeman, developing the land work to enhance the physical aspects of the training programme.

Financial Impact

All of our 2020 events have been cancelled which means we have lost 100% of our annual income. We manage to support ourselves without asking members for a membership fee.  As non-profit organisation, this income is used to cover expenses to allow athletes to attend meets with highly experienced coaches as part of a team.

Lockdown

Our coaches volunteered throughout lockdown delivering home workouts, live cook-a-longs to develop the person rather than just focussing on the athlete and online social events.

Parents of swimmers have said ...

...The club was “excellent.  The BSS children have been so lucky.”

...The coaches “helped with my child’s mental well-being and physical well-being through these difficult times.

The progress we have seen since the training programme started in 2017 has been huge – from just 7 swimmers at a regional level, to 28 regional swimmers, 11 at a National level, 2 qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic & Paralympic trials and 1 junior international.

Joe Seage has an intellectual disability, Asperger’s syndrome, and is on the autistic spectrum. He requires a consistent support team around him to function in everyday life, so it is imperative we raise funds to help support him when he goes for Paralympic selection. Joe is ranked third in GB, with only two places available on Team GB.

And the added benefit of our unique partnership model with Home Swimming Clubs means that our swimmers get access to performance level coaching and facilities, whilst still maintaining their relationship with their Home Clubs.

Our Appeal

We are appealing for financial support to give certainty to our talented young swimmers that they can look forward to competing as Team BSS again.

It will allow us to purchase any necessary equipment to allow us to restart training, and to help cover costs while Covid-19 restrictions are imposed.

We will be running COVID secure events along with cake stalls, 'name the bear' and raffles and using the Crowdfunder to collect the monies. These events will start with a Halloween themed day and finish with a Christmas inspired 24 HR relay.

It is also important that the club remains financially secure in the long term so as to continue to grow and provide the very best opportunities for swimmers to train in the Bassetlaw District.

We have set a target and hope that Sport England will match fund half of this through the Activity Together scheme. The club and all its members are looking to the future, when competitions can restart and dreams can remain alive.

Your donations will help:

Young children looking to take their swimming further

Children starting out competing

Children and Young adults competing at Regional, National and International Level

Swimmers / athletes with disabilities

Your support will help us continue to inspire future generations of swimmers in Bassetlaw.

Thank you