Anaconda 'Get Swimming' Access Fund Launch

Aim: We’re raising £5,000 to launch an Anaconda Access Fund to ensure that swimming can be accessible for EVERYONE in Islington & City of London

Who we are

Anaconda Swimming Club is a parent-run, charitable organisation based in Islington and the City of London. As the borough's only Premier Division competitive swim team, we offer a comprehensive pathway from beginner lessons to national-level competition. Our mission is to help each individual swimmer fulfil their potential, regardless of background or circumstance.

We need your support

To further our mission, we are launching the Anaconda Access Fund, aiming to raise £5000 to support up to 20 new swimmers. These funds will provide heavily discounted swimming lessons, club training, and essential equipment, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent young people from accessing the health and well-being benefits of swimming.

The Challenge:

• Over 40% of children in our borough leave primary school unable to swim 25 meters.
• Cost, accessibility, and cultural barriers exclude many from engaging in aquatic sports.
• There is a lack of inclusive swim pathways for beginners and those with additional needs.

Our Solution:

• Provide up to 20 new swimmers with heavily subsidised access to our Swim School and Squad Pathway.
• Run inclusive community events to drive awareness, participation and funding.
• Promote our new Access Fund via own website and social media channels, member referrals, pool & local businesses posters and PR activity in the local area.
• Ask Parents, Coaches and Supporters to share with their personal contacts, to spread the word within the local community
• Contact local schools and local authorities to identify young people in need.

Our fundraising efforts include three key events:

• Swimmer Time Trials
  Date: Saturday, 28th June 2025
  Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
  Location: Cally Pool (Caledonian Road)
  A community event featuring timed races and fun activities for swimmers from our Swim School, as well as Academy, and County Squads.

Funds will be raised through ‘payment for race entry’ mechanism and donations collected on the day.

• Open Water Swim Challenge
  Date: Sunday, 29th June 2025
  Time: 8:00 – 10:00 AM
  Location: West Reservoir, Hackney
  An open water swimming challenge inviting participants aged 13 and over (by June 25) to swim various distances (from 750m to 6km) for sponsorship.

Family Fun Day 

Date: Sunday 13th July 

Time: 2-4pm

Location:  Cally Pool, Islington

Our youngest swimmers can take part in a series of fun water based activities and races to help raise money.  Races to include the rubber ducky race, jellyfish drift, pool noodle joust and more! 

Funds will be raised through ‘payment for race entry’ mechanism and donations collected on the day.

Through these initiatives, we aim to foster inclusivity and provide opportunities for all children to develop water confidence, safety skills, keep fit and develop a lifelong love for swimming.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Your donations will directly support the accessibility of swimming for all. The funds raised will pay for up to 20 children to join our Swim School and Swim Squads at heavily subsidised rates. Each Access Fund place costs at least £285 per year to deliver.  A small amount of the funds raised will go towards the fundraising events to cover direct costs including pool hire, equipment and prizes.  All staffing of the events will be provided by parent and club team volunteers.

Community impact

Our inclusive swimming campaign includes a dynamic mix of fundraising events, from time trials and fun float races for younger swimmers to open water distance challenges for teenagers and above, ensuring broad community engagement. Your support will ensure every child can access the life-changing benefits of swimming.

Why your support matters

Many individuals and families are facing increasing financial pressures and we believe that no one should miss out on the benefits of swimming due to cost.  The Anaconda Access Fund seeks to remove financial barriers to those who would otherwise struggle to participate.

We know how much our swimmers love their lessons and training sessions and they all believe that no one should be excluded from doing a sport they love, which is why they are all getting behind this fundraiser to raise as much as possible to support others.

Who Will Benefit:

• Children from low-income families, particularly from ethnically diverse backgrounds
• Young swimmers with real potential needing a clear and supported path into club swimming who do not have the financial resources to fund squad swimming and competing

 Long-Term Impact

• The Anaconda Access Fund will become a permanent, annually refreshed initiative
• We will be looking to establish corporate sponsorships for long-term funding in the future once the fund is established and places have been allocated.
• Participants may transition into ongoing Swim School, Academy, or Squad pathways
• Successful participants could be trained as future coaches or swim leaders supporting local employment and economy.

How you can can help

Every donation makes a difference! There are three simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Donate to the campaign. Don’t delay, make a pledge today if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share this campaign on your social media, tell your family, friends and neighbours  to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser for your Open Water Swim Challenge or Time Trial  – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Make sure you claim GiftAid with your donation as it allows us to claim an extra 25pence for every £1 that is donated. 

If you are a local business, or  local media and are keen to support this fundraiser in anyway please get in touch at [email protected].  We would welcome event prizes donations, pledges of support and as well as exposure of our Access Fund Launch via store posters or press coverage so we can  let people know that they access heavily discounted swimming lessons with Anaconda Swimming Club.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2025 at 11:59pm