Helping our swimmers get back into the pool.

Aim

Otters would like to raise £10,000 to allow our swimmers to get back into the water as soon as possible.

WHO ARE WE?

Dereham Otters Swimming Club caters for swimmers of all ages and ability, starting with Novices through to the Performance Squad. Weekly training sessions are provided, with progressive teaching leading through ultimately to squad training and competition. 

Dereham & District Amateur Swimming Club (DDASC), is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the improvement and progress of competitive swimming, in all ages and to all social backgrounds.

We aim to encourage and develop good sportsmanship, individual integrity, team spirit and provide an environment in which swimmers can realise their full potential at all levels.

OUR CHALLENGE:

As a swimming club we have set ourselves a challenge to run, jump, hop, skip, walk, cycle or swim the distance from London to Tokyo, due to the Olympics not going ahead this year. This distance is a whopping 10,746 Miles which is equivalent to donating a pound a mile to help us reach our £10,000 target 

WHY ARE WE RAISING FUNDS?

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 our swimmers have been unable to access pools, like many others. And although we received the promising news that pools are able to reopen at the end of July, our home pool will not be able to do so due to maintenance issues. This has left many of our swimmers concerned about the future of Dereham Otters and when we will be able to get back into the pool. 

We are keen to get our 120 swimmers back to doing what they love as soon as possible, but need to find alternatives to our usual hub. This includes, upfront costs that private pools require and funds needed for remote Strength and Conditioning classes. We are a parent run club and simply don't have the financial reserves needed to see us through a crisis of this duration, let alone an added prolonged period out of the water.

We also understand how important swimming is to so many. Not only does it have an impact on our physical health, but also our mental well-being. So the opportunity to get swimmers back into the water as soon as possible means we will be able to improve and support all of our swimmers physically and mentally.

Dereham Otters has been helping children learn to swim and compete for over 40 years and we need your help so we can keep doing this for many more years!

HOW WILL WE USE THE MONEY RAISED?

By taking on the opportunity to raise money for the club, we will be in a better position to seek other opportunities to allow swimmers to access pools. We anticipate using the money raised to support the club with alternative pool costs while also trying to rebuild our swimmers back to fitness in a safe environment. We believe it is vital that all swimmers are supported and in doing so retain there friendships with squad mates through such challenging times.

With this money, Dereham Otters will be able to continue to support athletes who achieve amazing things, these include the following:

Samuel Tidy has been selected for the Swim England Para-Swimming talent squad!

Molly Monk had qualified for the Olympic trials that were postponed in April 2020 and has recently been selected for the Swim England's Diploma in Sporting excellence!

Charlie Summer was our first ever National gold medalist in 2019!

Here are our 2020 top 3 overall county champions...

And our team of County qualifiers...

Top swimmers from our annual Iceni Fundraising gala, which cannot go ahead this year due to Covid-19.

SO WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING TO KEEP ENGAGED AND CONNECTED WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE POOL? 

The team captains have been busy pushing the swimmers to their limits with weekly challenges: 

Lots of zoom sessions were organised to keep the swimmers connected. This included Nutrition talks, Motivational talks, Olympic swimmer chats, coaches/swimmer catch-ups and Strength & conditioning sessions. 

Most recently, the swimmers have been able to take part in face to face Strength and Conditioning sessions.

The swimmers also supported each other to celebrate mental health awareness week!

MATCH FUNDING CAN INCREASE THE TOTAL WE RAISE!

We are applying for Sport England "Active Together" match funding. If successful, Sport England will add to the monies raised to make our total even bigger! This means that any donations are worth more to us when donated through this crowdfunder, so please do help us in any way you can!

HAVE A LOOK AT ALL THE AMAZING RAFFLE PRIZES UP FOR GRABS, do be in with a chance of winning one of these prizes donate £10 and select the raffle ticket reward button:

4x Signed Adam Peaty photographs and arena swim caps

5x signed Jessica Jane Applegate Photographs and GB olympic t-shirts

A bag of aggregates of your choice donated by Norfolk Recycling

Reflexology session donated by Top to Toe

£50 hair product hamper

£25 voucher towards a meal at The Fox at Lyng

Voucher for a 2 course meal at Stoke Mill

An indulgent chocolate cake of your choice made to order

Prosecco summer hamper 

3 month pin badge subscription

Sports Journal written by Katy Sexton

Back to school hamper

This project successfully funded on 9th October 2020