Sport England: Active Together has provided £5,000 of match funding
Give Stowmarkets swimmers the best start!
Stowmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Aim
We need funding for new Fina approved track start diving blocks to provide the best start for Stowmarkets Swimmers.
We have been teaching, coaching and training swimmers in Stowmarket for 133 years. We are asking for your help today due to the extraordinary circumstances of Covid 19 which has impacted our finances. We want to carry on giving the swimmers of Stowmarket the best start possible and in order to do this we need your help to replace our flat top diving blocks with new Olympic style diving blocks.
What we need
Stowmarket Swimming Club currently uses flat top diving blocks which have reached the end of their life span. Practicing 'starts' is an important part of swimming training sessions.
Back in 2008 FINA approved the use of track start diving blocks, first used at the London 2012 Olympics. These have now become the standard diving blocks used in competition in the UK and beyond. These are found in all the pools we compete in.
When used correctly, the back board enables swimmers to gain more forward force during their dive, thus giving them a better start to their race. Our swimmers need to be able to practise using these diving blocks at our home pool so they are not starting their race at a disadvantage.
How Covid affected Stowmarket Swimming Club.
Early 2020 we planned to purchase new diving blocks using the funds we held in reserve. However this had to be put on hold when Covid put the country in lockdown.
The pool was closed in total for almost 8 long months. 54 Swimmer didn’t return back to the club once lockdown was lifted and we were unable to recruit more swimmers whilst restrictions were in place, decreasing the amount we could collect in monthly fees.
Our costs greatly increased as we had to hire more pool space to accommodate all our remaining swimmers safely with social distancing measures in place. Government and Swim England guidelines kept our swimmers safe, but placed a heavy burden on the clubs finances.
Open meet galas, where we invite local clubs to compete in our pool were all cancelled, which is a vital source of funding for our swimming club.
Our disability squad was forced to close due to the number of volunteers needed and the close contact required.
Covid 19 left the club £39,000 out of pocket!
Getting back in the swim of things.
Now restrictions have lifted we finally have been able to welcome all our swimmers back and our disability lessons have now restarted.
We have been able to recruit new swimmers to all squads.
Our first Open Meet successfully ran in December and made a small profit.
Membership fees have had to increase, but we can now say that now we are on track to break even each month. However there are no funds to pay for the diving blocks.
Plans are in place for more Open Meets, advertising on the wall, a sponsored swim event and more fundraising events.
Stowmarket Swimming Club who are we and what do we do?
Stowmarket Swimming Club has been a key part of the community since 1888, when members swam in the River Rat. Now, our home is the 25m 6 lane level deck competition pool at Mid Suffolk Leisure centre. Our members come from Stowmarket and many of the surrounding villages.
We are run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, which without the club would not be able to run. We are very fortunate to have a group of trained team managers, officials and coaches and swimming teachers, who are prepared to be at the pool at the break of dawn and travel the lengths of the county, to support our swimmers.
We welcome all with a passion for the sport of swimming including:
* Babies 6months+ for water confidence sessions
* Swimming lessons 3years+ focusing on skills required for competitive swimming.
* Disability Swimming lessons
* Child and young adults training sessions
* Masters (adult) training sessions
Our swimmers represent Stowmarket in events all around the country (and the world). This year over 40 swimmers qualified for the Suffolk County Championships and brought back a record haul of medals and our relay teams came 2nd overall! Its too early for us to know how many swimmers will qualify for the regional and national events. We have a swimmer who will compete in the GB Deaf Swimming Championships.
We hope that you are able to help our swimmers achieve even more.
Welcoming to all
We are welcoming to all, swimming is an inclusive sport with physical and mental health benefits for everyone, but in particular a benefit to those with a SEND (special educational needs and/or disability).
We currently have 16 swimmers with a SEND. We treat each swimmer as an individual and work with them to find the best way we can support them to achieve their goals. We focus on ability rather than disability. Where appropriate swimmers are supported within the mainstream swimming programme, swimming with others swimmers of the same ability.
This year we restarted our SEND swimming group for swimmers whos needs are more specialised, meaning that mainstream swimming lessons are not suitable. We then expanded our SEND group, on the news that our pool operator would be closing their provision. This now makes us the main provider in our community for SEND swimming lessons.Our enthusiastic volunteer teachers are qualified with Swim England and follow Swim England learn to swim programme. We have additional volunteers from our top swimming squads that provide one-to-one support to swimmers in the water. The main emphasis is fun and confidence, building foundations and improving motor skills, whilst seeing the children enjoy the water and improving social skills.
We believe that everyone has the right to learn to swim. We currently have a waiting list to join our SEND swimming lessons, if we reach our goal we will hire more pool time to offer our SEND swimming lessons to all who need it.
Stowmarket Swimming Club welcomes everyone and therefore our diving blocks need to be able to suit everyone, whatever their needs. The new Olympic style diving blocks are more suitable for everyone including those with a SEND, younger children and more mature master swimmers because:
- The non-slip surface is far superior than our current blocks, where surface is worn and no longer as effective. Giving the swimmer greatly increased stability
- The backstop provides the swimmer a place for the back foot to rest, therefore spreads weight more evenly over 2 feet (rather than mostly on 1 foot on a flat top block) again hugely increasing stability
- A side access step, avoids the need to make a large step over the back step. Easier for those with mobility issues.
- The adjustable back stops can easily be adjustable by the swimmers to suit their stride length.
- Practising with the same equipment that the swimmers will find at other pools, means a swimmer can reproduce with confidence the performances they have been working towards.
- Swimmers prefer the Olympic style blocks as it gives them the opportunity to increase their starting acceleration, which allows them to decrease their racing times.
Our swimmers hold high aspirations for themselves many have dreams to be Olympian or Paralympian champions. In order for Stowmarket Swimming Club to be able to help swimmers achieve their dreams we need the right equipment.
Looking forward, if we remain with the flat top blocks, this will have a negative impact on the numbers we can attract to attend our open meet swimming galas, which are our second largest income stream after our membership fees. Membership fees could also be negatively affected if members choose to leave the club. This would most acutely be felt in the top squads, which we rely on to teach and assist our teaching groups including the SEND groups.
How can you help us ?
1) Donate to this Crowdfunder either by donating the amount you choose or by purchasing a reward.
2) Share, share and share again. We understand that not everybody is in the position to donate money. Please share with your family and friends.
3) Tell your boss! We have a range of advertising opportunities available or we would be very grateful for any donations we could raffle or auction.
4) Organise your own sponsored event and donate the funds the swimming club.
5) Please continue to use Easy Fundraising to earn funds for the swimming club for free.
FAQS
Q: They sound very expensive?
A: Yes, the blocks need to be FINA approved and made to fit our pool and be compatible with all our timing equipment. They are made with high grade materials making them durable in the humid poolside environment. The pool deck needs to be prepared for anchor points to enable the blocks to be removed and fitted for club sessions easily. Additionally they require a side access step which is an additional cost, this will make them safer and easier for children and those with disabilities to access. Being the last club in the area to purchase the new diving blocks, our swimmers have tested the full range of styles available and these are the best suited to our swimmers and our pool.
Q: Will the diving blocks be available for swimmers to use in public swimming sessions
A: No, these will be solely owned and maintained by Stowmarket Swimming Club for use by its members.
Q: What will happen to the money raised if we don’t raise the full amount?
A: All the money we raise will go towards the new diving blocks. Should we not receive enough any money raised will be ring fenced and we we continue to fundraise until the diving blocks can be purchased.
Q: What will happen if we raise more than the diving blocks cost?
A: Should we raise more money than the blocks cost all additional funds will used to fund the new timing board.
This project successfully funded on 5th April 2022