As one of the five Host Boroughs for the Olympics and Paralympics, Greenwich Council have ambitious plans to improve sport and physical activity for everyone in their area. Such plans start from updating the leisure facilities and then drawing together plans on how the use can be improved for everyone.

As the balance between participation and competitive swimming had changed on the new Eltham site the Council felt it was important to make compensatory changes across the Borough. To this end all swimming/aquatic clubs were awarded pool time under an interim pool programme, which runs until the end of March 2008.

In preparation for this change in pool stock and to incorporate the principles outlined in 'A strategy to get London Swimming 2008-2012+' endorsed by the Greater London Authority and Sport England London, Greenwich Council undertook an independent audit of swimming provision in the Borough in 2007.  This audit looked into club swimming, school swimming and swimming delivered by the Borough leisure provider GLL. 

Through the audit and opening of the new pool it was clear that Greenwich Council needed to address the delivery of swimming in the Borough in order to maximise quality assurance, community use, competitive opportunities, and access to the full range of aquatic disciplines (diving, synchronised swimming and water polo).

To work towards this Greenwich Council recruited the assistance of Olympic Coach Doug Campbell on a part-time basis until April 2008. Doug viewed sessions from clubs, the GLL learn to swim programme and a variety of schools swimming lessons. Doug looked to establish the good practise that exists in the Borough and establish the level of quality for swimming provided in Greenwich.

Doug has now written a report for Greenwich Council that concentrates on a quality assessment of swimming in Greenwich. The quality assessment looks at clubs, the GLL learn to swim school and schools swimming. Each club will receive feedback from Doug and the council has written to each club to inform them of Doug’s findings.

GLL undertook an online survey of parents of children on their learn to swim programme. 700 parents were contacted, with 165 responding. One question asked the responders to name a local swimming club, 134 could not name one and those who could name clubs mainly mentioned ones outside the Borough.

A very successful Swimming Master Class was held on the 24^th February at the Waterfront Leisure Centre. Swimmers and parents from clubs and the GLL swim school took part. Swimmers were asked their views of the “best” and “worst” things about swimming. Swimmers then took part in a Master Class session where they were able to get top tips from Doug Campbell and Michelle Weltman (Paralympic Coach). Parents, coaches and club committee members were then asked to discuss swimming in Greenwich with the Director of London Swimming Colin Brown. 

Options 

At the Master Class three options for the delivery of swimming in Greenwich were discussed. A pathway devised for Greenwich must cover the following principles:

• A pathway from learn to swim to performance
• An opportunity to engage in the aquatic disciplines (diving, synchronised swimming and water polo)
• A financially sustainable model based on partnership working

The developed pathway must be:

• An improvement on what Greenwich has so far
• Affordable/sustainable
• Accessible (geography/training time)
• Quality assured

Outcomes

One of the pathways that was discussed at the Master Class has now been chosen.  This option will be discussed with clubs and other interested groups to work on the detail of the pathway. The chosen pathway (C) allows clubs to retain their identity whilst delivering within a pathway so that every resident of Greenwich can reach their full potential in a quality assured programme. 

Next Steps

• 17th March - 1st April - Time for clubs to digest information ready for consultation meetings.
• Centre by centre consultation meetings will then take place (open to anyone from the centre):
  • Arches                         1st April             7pm
  • Eltham                         2nd April            7pm  
  • Thamesmere               3rd April             4pm – 7pm (drop in session)
  • Waterfront                  4th April             4pm – 7pm (drop in session)
• At these meetings and throughout April there will need to be further discussion with people interested in swimming in the Borough to fine-tune the pathway.

Document of Interest

Detail of Pathway C

Squad Criteria

Operational Menu

Council Letter to Clubs