Help Chesterfield Keep Swimming

Aim

Like many, COVID-19 has had a major impact on our club, we now need help to make sure that we can keep all of our fantastic members swimming

Like many, COVID-19 has had a major impact on our club, we now need help to make sure that we can keep all of our fantastic members swimming.

Who are we?

Chesterfield Swimming Club is North Derbyshire's leading swimming club providing top quality swimming teaching and training at all levels. We support hundreds of children from those learning to swim for the very first time all the way up to those competing at major national competitions not to mention all the swimmers that swim for social, health and fitness reasons in our Club & Masters (over 25's) groups.

We are passionate about swimming and about people, and very proud of our extended swim family who are unfailingly generous with support of all kinds and are always up for a challenge.

"A big thank you to all at CSC for the welcome and support we've had from this lovely, friendly club. Our daughter's swimming has come on in leaps and bounds and she always gets out of the pool with a smile." (Academy Parent)

Links to the Community

In recent years we have worked closely with Chesterfield Borough Council to ensure there is a complete swimming pathway in Chesterfield so no matter who you are or what your swimming experience is, there is a place for you to be part of an organised swimming programme in Chesterfield.

We work in co-operation with Derbyshire School Sports Partnership to run the annual school swimming gala in Chesterfield which has enthusiastic involvement from dozens of local primary schools with whom we have cultivated excellent relationships.

"Thanks to Chesterfield Swimming Club and the schools for another fantastic swimming gala! The children had loads of fun both swimming and supporting each other. Thanks to all who made it possible." (School Swimmer Parent)

Our School of Splash is based at a local school (Highfield Hall Primary), who we work with to ensure that hundreds of young children learn how to be safe in and around water and, of course, learn how to swim.

Highfield Hall Primary School Pool

One of the major roles our club plays in the community is keeping Highfield Hall Primary School's swimming pool operational. The pool is pretty old and requires a lot of upkeep, without our support the school would not be able to manage it and the pool would close which would be devastating.

Not only does the pool support a couple of great Learn to Swim programmes which together teach hundreds of small children how to be safe in and around water but it also provides FREE swimming lessons to hundreds of school children both from Highfield Hall Primary School and from other schools nearby.

During lockdown alone we have had to invest over £4,000 on a brand new pool filter to fix the major leak that started and had our teachers and coaches at the pool several times a day bucketing water out of the plant room. It was an emergency fix but to be honest we don't have the money and have to claw it back as quickly as possible somehow.

What else do we do?

As well as our work with Highfield Hall Primary School and running our School of Splash, we offer programmes tailored to the needs of swimmers at different ages and stages of development, from weekly hour-long sessions through to rigorous training schedules of 20 hours or more each week, often at unsociable times. Our top swimmers show remarkable discipline and commitment to their sport.

"Inspiring for our little ones to watch the older swimmers, especially as you know how much training it takes to be that FAST! Respect to their families for supporting them. Such dedication all round!" (County Squad Parent)

What's the problem?

The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent suspension of all training and club activity has hit the swimming club hard. It's been a difficult few months with serious financial implications for the future of the club.

This year we have been unable to run any of our Open Meets.

Each year we hold three competitions which form the basis of the club's income, each one generates in excess of £10,000 of crucial funds since it simply costs too much to ask members to pay exactly what it cost for them to be able to swim in the club. We pride ourselves on being accessible to the people of Chesterfield.

We even had to refund all the money which had been paid in entries for our scheduled Open Meet in April, a huge financial blow on top of the bitter disappointment for our swimmers, for whom these competitions are focal points of the year.

• We need to make up this massive shortfall in annual income.

We used to have 6-8 swimmers in each lane, at the moment we can only have 2!

"SO glad to get back in the water. I've missed it SO MUCH!!!" (National Squad Swimmer)

We have successfully implemented detailed plans approved by Chesterfield Borough Council to return to the water, going above and beyond the government guidelines to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both coaches and swimmers.This has necessitated additional lane hire to make sure that social distancing advice is adhered to at all times.

• We need funding for additional lane hire to keep our swimmers safe during the pandemic while continuing to offer effective training.

We are a growing swimming club and we have exciting plans to develop even further at all levels. These plans are under threat as we have to focus on basic survival at the moment.

• We need funding to make sure we can offer opportunities to more children in Chesterfield and to implement the plans we have to provide additional opportunities for our existing swimmers.

We HAVE to keep Highfield Hall Primary School Pool open.

The school relies on us to keep the pool in good working order and without us there are serious fears that the pool will shut forever causing hundreds of school children to lose their access to free school swimming lessons.

• We need funding to support general maintenance and to recoup some of the massive costs we have already had to pay during lockdown on repairs.

"Swimming lessons at School of Splash are amazing. My son is becoming so much more confident in water and we're happy because we feel he will be so much safer when we go on holiday. He loves his lessons" (School of Splash Parent)

More about our swimmers.

Once swimmers graduate from their Learn to Swim programmes they join Chesterfield Swimming Club where they not only train to become great swimmers but where they also become great people. We are super proud of all the positive feedback we get about our swimmers, they develop amazing attitudes and respect by being part of our club and we are desperate to ensure that continues to happen long after the COVID-19 pandemic is a thing of the past.

COVID-19 has already put tremendous strain on the mental and physical wellbeing of our young swimmers, they are used to being at the pool surrounded by great friends who all work to inspire and motivate each other. We have to make sure that we protect that in the future, imagine losing your hopes and dreams when you're only at the start of your life because of this horrible pandemic.

Who will you be helping?

If you could spare a small amount to help us carry on doing all the great things we do for so many people in Chesterfield then we will be eternally grateful.

Your donations will help all of these people:

• Young children learning to swim for the first time.
• Children who aspire to be Olympic swimmers one day.
• Children and young adults competing at County, Regional and National levels.
• Masters swimmers (those aged 25+) training to maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
• Swimmers with disabilities.
• Swimmers with mental and physical health conditions which swimming helps to control and improve.

Your donations will mean the world to all of these people as it will help them keep doing what they absolutely love and have already committed so much of their young lives in to doing.

Thank you in advance, we really do appreciate your support.

This project successfully funded on 1st September 2020