Government Cuts Increase Reliance on Grants for Funding by Lottie Mew
Government cuts have meant that free swimming for the under 16s and over 60s is no longer available. This has had an impact on the most vulnerable sectors of society, with large numbers of young and elderly swimmers missing out on previously free sessions.
Swimming is important both as a physical and a social activity, providing measurable health benefits to all sectors of society. The fight to keep people swimming still continues and grants such as those from the Swimathon Foundation play a vital role in allowing community group members to continue accessing swimming pools.
The Swimathon Foundation has been providing essential funding to pools, community groups and charities for ten years. The last round of grants that were awarded illustrates the wide range of individuals who benefit from this funding. For example, Caterpillar Club in St Helens is now able to hire a pool for a group of disabled children; I-Camp in Redditch is now providing female-only swimming sessions for Muslim women and Kids N Action in London can now give free swimming lessons to disadvantaged members of the local area who may otherwise not be able to afford it. Without funding from the Swimathon Foundation, this wide range of groups would have found it difficult to continue providing these services. Grant recipients are extremely appreciative of the financial support that the Foundation provides and it is a lifeline for many swimming groups.
Margaret Gregory, Caterpillar Club’s Fundraising and Event Co-ordinator said: “The Swimathon Foundation grant has allowed us to give children safe access to a Swimming pool that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Swimming helps improve their confidence, self esteem and physical well-being. As a small parent-led group, this kind of financial support is so important.”
A full list of recipients from Round Two can be found at here.
