Swimathon Foundation has today awarded a total of £30,000 in grants to 148 swimming and aquatic clubs, swim schools and independent swimming and aquatic organisations from its 2021 Covid-19 Relief Fund.
Swimathon Foundation launched its first Fund in May 2020 in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the swimming community across Britain. Having awarded £50,000 of grants from this first Fund to over 100 organisations and individuals last year, the Foundation realised additional support was required and released a further £30,000 to aid the swimming community. In total, just over 250 organisations/individuals have been supported through the two Funds. After an overwhelming number of applications, the Foundation has sought to support as many members of the swimming/aquatic community as it can.
Anthony Kendall OBE, Chair of Swimathon Foundation, said:
“The last year has had a huge impact on society as a whole. Organisations in the sporting sector have really struggled and the Foundation has been determined to play its part in supporting those smaller, local groups that are the foundation of swimming participation across the UK.
“We have been absolutely taken aback by the number of people who need help during these times and I am proud that we are able to offer some financial support to our wonderful swimming community. With the reopening of pools on the horizon, we hope the whole swimming community can get back to normality in the coming weeks and months and we will continue to help in whatever way we can.”
Some of the organisations that the Foundation has supported through its second Covid-19 Relief Fund include:
- Witney & District Synchronised Swimming Club, which was formed in 1975 and was the starting club for three current GB team members.
- Ace Swim School in Swansea, which runs lessons from new-born up to 10 years old, with parents and kids in the water together.
- Bon Accord Thistle ASC, which caters to deprived areas around Aberdeen and has been running Zoom sessions to help members stay fit.
- Lurgan Amateur Swimming Club in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, which has 160 members from the local community, from those starting swimming through to those competing at national level.
The Foundation is a remarkable ‘force for good’ in communities across the UK. Its main pool-based Swimathon has raised over £50 million for charities since it was started some 34 years ago.
Swimathon is the UK’s biggest pool-based recreational swimming event. It takes place annually at some 600 pools across the UK and some 750,000 people have taken part since the first event in 1986.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.swimathonfoundation.org.