Swim Bournemouth COVID Support

Aim

Crowdfunder is waiving its platform fees for community and charity crowdfunding projects during the coronavirus crisis.

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About Swim Bournemouth

Swim Bournemouth is a competitive swimming team affiliated with Swim England that has a staff of highly skilled professional coaches, operating out of some of the finest facilities in Dorset.

We offer opportunities for swimmers of all ages and levels of development, from the six-year-old to the aspiring Olympic medalist. As well as a competitive master’s squad for all adult age groups.

We are here to provide opportunity and encouragement for each swimmer to fully develop his or her potential in competitive swimming. As a club we are committed to developing the character and self-discipline of young athletes, through the sport of swimming. We strive to build a family atmosphere, where athletes can learn to be themselves while working toward their own personal goals.

We are a recognized sporting club in the area and hope to continue to offer a cost-effective swimming program to the local children and adults in the area.

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OUR PERFORMANCE SQUAD TAINING IN DUBAI SPRING 2019

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Why are we fundraising?

No one could have predicted a year ago that we would be so deeply affected by the pandemic and that swimming facilities would be closed for so many months. Over the last twelve months we have:

• Lost 30% of our members, due to illness and financial hardship
• Seen pool hire costs rise >10%
• Had to reduce the number of swimmers per session due to Social Distancing rules so our members get less time in the pool
• Been unable to run swim meets, raffles, fund raisers or other socials, losing £10-£15K in annual income 
• Had monthly charges to pay even though we could not swim as the pool providers were closed
• Topped up the salaries of our head-coach and assistant head coach as the government furlough did not fully cover their costs
• Paid all coaches for Land Training and Zoom calls throughout lockdown
• Rely on the hard work and goodwill of our volunteer committee to keep the club limping along

At this time, we feel that we cannot ask the remaining parents & adult swimmers to pay EVEN MORE for LESS POOL TIME and our financial position will not change until we can run events or until all social distancing measures are lifted.

Finally, we are only allowed to bring our junior members back on April 12th so will not receive the substantial monthly income from our adult (18+) swimmers until they are permitted to return late in the year.

We therefore need your help to keep the club afloat during these difficult times.

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Why use Crowdfunder?

We want Swim Bournemouth to continue being part of the local community and to get everyone back swimming safely and to go on growing, developing and supporting the next generation of champion swimmers.

We have also applied for Sport England fund Matching: 'Return to Play Active Together'. If we are successful, they will match some portion of what we raise. BUT to get approval from them we have to show that we can raise a significant amount by ourselves. So HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• By offering a PRIZE or REWARD that members can purchase or
• By purchasing a reward, buying a raffle ticket or by making a donation

All money raised will go to the club and if we hit our targets it might be match-funded by Sport England

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How will the funds be used?

The committee have looked at every way to save funds, for example, by asking our non-contracted coaches to work for free, giving up pool time and asking our volunteer parents to take on more. We now need YOUR support to:

• Cover the pool costs, AND
• Pay ALL our coaches, 
• without raising costs, above our normal annual increase, for the parents & adult swimmers

We really want to bring our swimmers back to a safe and productive swim environment and allow them to re-gain their confidence and strength.

So, if you are able, please consider giving a donation in support of the club and we will do our best to keep our members swimming whilst adhering to the current Government restrictions and making sure that the club is protecting its members from the Covid pandemic.

PARENT TESTIMONIALS

SOME OF OUR MASTERS SWIMMERS AT A COMPETITION

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                                 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

This project successfully funded on 10th May 2021