BASC ARE BACK! Help us train Stronger and Smarter

Aim

We are seeking financial support to provide up-to-date training-aids to assist our coaches and swimmers in reaching their highest potential

Who are we?

Banbridge Amateur Swimming Club (BASC) is a nonprofit club which has been developing swimmers since 1988 . We pride ourselves on providing children with life skills , being  water confident, as well as the opportunity to become  highly competitive swimmers up to and including National level competition. The club is primarily led by a fantastic group of volunteer coaches who deliver training sessions to our junior club, training 3 times a week and senior club training 6 days a week. We have a family feel and a merry band of behind the scenes volunteers on hand to assist with all that comes with running a successful club.

We compete in the Provincial Town League and Aqausprint League and have secured our place in the Top division of each of the 8 the last years.  

Our swimmers are competing at various levels from local galas up to Ulster Age Group and Irish Age Group championships. We also have Ulster Squad swimmers and Irish Youth Squad representation. This high level of achievement is testament to the coaching program and dedication of the entire team, whilst promoting good work ethic with an aim to maintain consistency of standards. We also take pride that we cater for a vibrant junior section with swimmers as young as 7 taking part in squad training.

To find out more about our club please follow  Banbridge ASC

So how did the Covid-19 pandemic affect us?

The COVID-19 virus disrupted the majority of the 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 swimming seasons. 

Only the ‘elite’ swimmers; potentials for Rio 2020/21 and Paris 2024, identified previous to 2019/20 season being permitted to swim (26 swimmers across Ireland !)  

During the first lock down we tried to keep morale high ; provided online land-conditioning training and also suspended all monthly fees,  Coaches held weekly zoom meetings with swimmers which also provided time for the swimmers to interact and chat with each other .

Our club returned to the pool in May 2021.  Restrictions had been imposed on the numbers of swimmers we were allowed per session, along with no access to changing facilities. This meant that swimmers who were used to having at least 4 sessions per week were now restricted to one or two and had to turn up pool ready and go home wet.
Financially our outgoings increased as we had to hire more pool time to facilitate all swimmers returning to the pool. Unfortunately, this meant trying to find pool time where we could, sometimes resulting in travelling to other areas of the country, this in turn increased travel and associated costs for families and the club for the coaches. This has affected the swimmers and their families financially and mentally. For example, some senior swimmers who would have come to the pool after school and taken the bus home could no longer do this, this meant swimmers missed training or had to rely on parents altering schedules to help. On top of this burden we were forced to increase fees in order to secure enough pool time. The club did subsidise this as much as possible with some club reserves. Inevitably we have lost swimmers which is sad to see, but the further knock on is that this increases the financial burden on those that remain.
Alongside this, most domestic and international competitions were unable to take place and as such the traditional method of considering performances at the Irish Open Championships (Division 1 and 2 meets) to select athletes for the 2021-2022 performance programme was not possible. Since returning to the pools, the selection method has been reinforced for the 2022-23 season selection, however the opportunities to perform to achieve the target goals have been reduced and many swimmers are therefore disadvantaged for this  selection process. Our top levels athletes have also lost confidence and motivation and feel with reduced hours in the pool they will not get back to the expected levels. Financially this has also impacted the club as we have reduced gala fee income as swimmers don’t want to enter, yet membership fees and coaches’ costs at the few galas still need to be supported by the club.

About 10 % of our swimmers lost focus and ambition as the "catch up game " seemed too big, some left and some now only swim occasionally .  The cost of renewing new training equipment that has sat for months over lock down imposed extra cost on families.  Usually the club helps to recycle equipment from swimmers being passed down but with the restriction in place these days this has not been permitted for health and safety.

As a club we remain committed to retaining swimmers and  keeping them engaged. We aim to keep costs to our swimmers as low as possible whilst providing a high standard of coaching allowing swimmers to reach National status , however we now also need to focus strongly on how to rebuild our club, importantly the morale and strength of our swimmers , whilst also bringing in new members in a healthy and safe manner.  

Why are we crowdfunding? 

We are  seeking  financial support so we can rebuild our club. We strive to retain our family feel whilst retaining our highly competitive and successful swimmers. We aim to replace equipment for both the Junior and Senior squads and their Coaches in order to help with this renewing journey ! 

Without the financial support of our community we cannot sustain the high standards of the club and in order for our high level of achievement to prevail we need to move with the times and provide the necessary training equipment,  as we believe investment in technologies is key to success.

We are  seeking  financial support so we can rebuild the club and purchase up to date equipment for both the Junior and Senior clubs , and their coaches  (up-to-date stopwatches,  back-start wedges, lane ties, fins , snorkels ) to help rebuild the strength and resilience of our committed swimmers.  The club needs to raise nearly £10000 over the next 5 weeks  to purchase essential equipment that will unite the swimmers ( club kit ) develop swimmers strokes, maintain data records and assist the coaching teams at every level. Providing these essential pieces of training equipment will show our commitment to our swimmers and the hard work they and their families put in on a daily basis. 

We also want to encourage more younger swimmers to join the club and participate in competitive swimming which is the goal post for many swimmers providing the electric atmosphere whilst also uniting team morale with relays races . We aim to do this through fun in-house club Gala’s and a more competitive regional meets. Watching these fun galas is often inspirational  for spectators and often we are approached by young budding athletes after enquiring about how  to join our club.    However , every gala costs us around £1000+  to run in order to maintain swimming standards in alignment with Swim Ireland.   Despite this, we aim to fund 2 galas, one in house for the junior squads and one regional level for more senior swimmers  . Since returning to the pools the opportunities to perform to achieve the target goals have been reduced and many clubs feel their swimmers are therefore disadvantaged for selection process. These galas will provide a goal to aim for, permit another chance for swimmers to highlight their potential, achieve goal times and qualify for the Division 1 and 2 meets needed for selection  onto further gals and squads. Swim Ulster have offered to support us in this campaign by  helping us run the gala if funding permits.

We had budgeted for equipment upgrades however due to the Covid-19 pandemic we are set to lose more than £15 000 in revenue from loss of membership fees , gala fees donations and the cost of replacing unused equipment.  

The finances that we raise through crowdfunder will help us to: 

• Retain the provisions to support our highly qualified and committed coaching team
• Provide updated training aids for both junior an senior clubs
• Provide equipment needed to hold level 3 galas
• Provide opportunity for swimmers to reach their potential 
• Provide club sense of belonging
• Return the club membership fees equivalent to that pre lockdown and help recruit potential swimmers who cant afford this now 
• Cover Increased pool expenses due to increased time needed
  

How can you help ?

 If you recognize the value that volunteer-run grass-roots sports clubs like ours add to communities, the wider leisure sector and to the health, well-being and all-round development of the athletes we train, then we hope you’ll support us.

There are many ways in which you can help 

• Donate 

• like and share 
• Offer rewards 
  
  

Our reward to our supporters   We’re not just asking for money for nothing, we’ve come up with pledge rewards so that we can say thank you for your help at what is a difficult time for us all.

Please don’t think that these rewards are only on offer to club members.

Some rewards, like the club branded bobble hat and hoodie will most likely appeal more to club members; however there are plenty of other options that will appeal to everybody- we have a signed Irish Football shirt , rowing and Pilates lessons, beauty hampers  and much more ! 

For as long as we’re able, we will keep adding new reward levels, so please keep checking our page.

This project successfully funded on 28th June 2023