Royal Wolverhampton Swimming Club Covid Funding

Aim

To rebuild our financial reserves, be of assistance to parents who might have been affected by the pandemic, and to purchase equipment

Who are we?

The Royal Wolverhampton Swimming Club offers comprehensive long-term development programmes for swimmers in and around Wolverhampton and beyond, to progress within the sport to become the best they can be. Our programme starts with swimmers from as young as 4 years of age up to adults aged 20.  We provide opportunities and inspiration for young people to fulfil their dreams in the pool.  We have created an environment for swimmers to train knowing that they can be selected for not just local and regional events, but national and international too.

The Wider Community

Our swimmers come from various parts of the West Midlands and beyond and we have seen successes with the likes of:-

• Alice Dearing from Oldbury, 
• Tom Derbyshire from Stafford, and most recently 
• Matt Richards 

All achieved success at European level and had the benefit of a professional and highly respected coaching team who are committed to delivering training programmes designed to nurture and motivate athletes to reach their potential and achieve their goals.

Through our links with a learn to swim programme, there are around 1400 children learning to swim.  The love of the sport starts at a very early age, and as the children progress and start to compete, we witness them enjoying a real sense of team spirit.   We are exceptionally proud of our swimmers, their comradery, friendships and how they have motivated themselves during lockdown.  They're role models to their peers. 

Why Do We Need Funding?

The onset of COVID 19 had a huge impact on The Royal, and was especially difficult for our swimmers who were not able to train with their friends.  The club has also been impacted financially as, despite being closed, has substantial fixed maintenance costs that have eaten into reserves. 

Whilst we were able to re-open between the various lockdowns, we haven't been able to operate at full capacity.  We had no option but to keep two coaches on furlough, haven't been able to invest in equipment, and don't have the slush fund available to offer parents who might themselves have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic.  We don't want our swimmers to be denied the opportunity to swim any more than they already have irrespective of their age or level.

Safety has always been our main priority and therefore a sensible, phased approach for returning to training was introduced after the first lockdown in Sumer 2020, but unfortunately due to compliance with government regulations,  we were never able to return to original numbers or sessions -  we are not prepared to compromise the health of our swimmers and coaches or the quality of the sessions we deliver.   The quality of what we offer is the reason we are successful.

How will we use the money raised?

The funds are critical to the long term development of the swimming programme across the board.  We are proud of our roots within the local community and want to rebuild our resources to support our swimmers and their development. 

We need:-

• Equipment to help swimmers improve
• To retain the services of our coaches 
•  To create a "slush" fund to help parents, who as a result of Covid,  suffered financially and may struggle to pay fees

We are conscious that our sport provides essential skills, quickly becomes part of a child's social life, develops their behaviour and confidence in a positive way and benefits them in many areas of life.

Therefore we are appealing to our members and the wider community to support our crowdfunding journey, which will, in turn, allow us to continue to be a growing and inspirational swimming club in the West Midlands for many years to come.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This project successfully funded on 25th March 2021