Target reached!
We've hit our initial target, and we appreciate all the donations we've received. Bu...
Help keep Bolton Metro Swim Squad afloat!
Bolton, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Aim
We're appealing to our local community, friends and businesses to help raise vital funds to ensure the future of Bolton Metro Swim Squad.
Who are we?
Bolton Metro Swim Squad are 30 years old this year. We have been part of the local community since 1992.
We are a not-for-profit, entirely self-funded, not council subsidised, fully inclusive performance swimming squad for Bolton and the surrounding community - supporting and developing young athletes to enable them to fulfil their potential.
Why are we crowdfunding?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have inevitably lost our primary funding source, our galas. Our regular bag pack fundraisers in partnership with local supermarkets have not happened. Our three annual galas would have provided the squad with an income of £4000 per gala, and our bag pack fundraiser would have brought in a further £800 per event.
Since the coming out of the pandemic, all of our costs have sored:
- Our pool hire costs have gone up, and this will continue to rise
- Swimmers numbers down from 96 members down to just 71
- Additional charges of Duty Managers due to enhanced risk assessment by Bolton Council
- No longer able to do our Bag Pack fundraisers
Our only source of income is the swimmers' monthly fees. Due to rising pool hire costs and lower membership numbers, we are now struggling to keep afloat (no pun intended).
We urgently need help to secure this squad's future. Let's hit our target and keep current future swimmers and swimming!
How will funding be used?
Funding would enable Bolton Metro to continue as a Performance Squad for the 2022/2023 season until such a time where we can secure our galas. Funding will be used to pay for the pool hire and our fantastic coaching staff whilst we have no additional income from galas - so that all swimmers can continue their training.
Our primary aim is to survive. Then we can look to grow the squad with the next generation of swimmers.
How you can play your part?
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
- Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
- Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
- Offer rewards yourself. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
- If you're a local business and wish to sponsor your local squad please get in touch with [email protected]
Our Squad
Since the pandemic, we've gone from 96 members down to just 71. We've lost some of our older swimmers who lost motivation without the routine of squad swimming. We've also not had the natural progression of swimmers joining from lessons or clubs, resulting in a 2-year deficit of new members.
Our squad ranges from school Year 5 through to Year 13, plus 3 members who continue to train while at College and University.
We have two excellent full-time coaches, Richard Howard (Head Coach) and Antony Evitts (Assistant Head Coach), both from Bolton and both experts in their field.
Our squad consists of 4 levels. We aim to deliver a complete programme to develop them as swimmers and individuals. We have a long-term plan for each swimmer and train them within the suggested zones from our governing body (Swim England), which aims to coach a swimmer through different phases of their physical, emotional, and psychological development.
The mental health impact on our swimmers not being able to swim and see their friends was immense. The support from the coaches to our swimmers was terrific during the various lockdowns we suffered in Bolton. This led our Head Coach to undertake Mental Health Training to tackle any ongoing issues any swimmer may have.
Success of the Squad
By taking care of each swimmer and adding the expert swimming knowledge of our coaches, we have been able to build a successful competitive squad.
At least 85% of the squad compete at county standard, gaining and exceeding county times. We've been ranked within the top 5 squads in the county. We have consecutively increased our medal tally and top 10 finishes for the last three years. We set a target of 60% of the squad reaching a regional level, and we have increased that number over the previous three years and seen greater success. We aim to have 15% of swimmers competing at a national level, which we achieved in 2019 and had our best year in terms of qualifiers, finalists, and medallists for five years. We are also delighted that we've had swimmers represent the county of Lancashire in the national inter-county competition for the past three consecutive years.
As an inclusive squad, we are also proud to have a junior multi-national medallist para swimmer. This swimmer is on the national programme for swimmers identified as future Paralympic hopefuls and has recently won gold medals at events on the international circuit and the many junior and open titles.
Recognition
Over the last few years, the squad's success has led to swimmers being selected development camps that range from county to national level, both on an able-bodied and Para-swimming.
Our head coach has been identified to participate in the mentor programme for the North West. Only a small number of coaches in the region are invited to share ideas and work with them to improve the standard of swimming.
Our recent achievements show that we as a squad are bringing success to the local area at every level, and we are placing Bolton amongst the best in the region for swimming. We want to continue to attract more members from the local area to give future generations from every background and ethnicity.
Our squad needs your support!
Our swimming squad is our swimming family. We do not want our current swimmers or any future swimmers to miss the opportunity to swim, train and develop with us.
We're asking for any donation, big or small, to help us reach our 5K target.
We urgently need help to secure this squad's future. Let's hit our target and keep current and future swimmers swimming!
Want to join?
Bolton Metro are an inclusive squad open to children with disabilities, whether hidden or visible.
If you're interested in joining the squad, then please get in touch with [email protected]
Sport England: Active Together has provided £2,000 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 30th April 2022