Weekly News
Welcome to the London Swimming News - if you are receiving this for the first time we hope that this weekly selection of news from us will inform, entertain and keep you in touch with what is happening across the capital in aquatics.
London Summer of Sport 2008 applications deadline extended to 23 July
If you haven’t applied to the London Summer of Sport 2008 yet, then now is your chance. The application deadline has been extended to midday on the 23 July, so you still have the opportunity to get involved in what will be the biggest and best London Summer of Sport to date. It couldn’t be a better time given the countdown to our very own Cultural Olympiad. To play your part in this year's London Summer of Sport programme download an application form and supporting documents.
Congratulations to London Borough of Redbridge Swimming Club for receiving £3,000 from the Jack Petchy Foundation. The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11 - 25. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society, further details http://www.londonswimming.org/page/display/170
Young Volunteer Questionnaire
The asa is currently working with the asa Youth Forum to review the way it recruits and supports young volunteers. To be able to improve your experience as a volunteer and encourage more young volunteers to become active, we kindly request that you complete and return the questionnaire. This is to be filled out by any past, current or future (considering) volunteers under the age of 25. Please return your completed questionnaire by 31st July 2008 to youthforum@swimming.org
The Master Class Comes to London
Following the success of The Total Swimming Masterclass in Sheffield, Total Swimming is running this event in London. The Master Class is specifically designed for Masters Swimmers. This event focuses on training smart in and out of the pool. Work with Olympic coaches and athletes, expert nutritionists and physiotherapists in order for you to get the most out of your swimming.
Colin also spoke at a legacy conference with HRH Princess Anne at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton where he was able to raise the continuing issue of Building Schools for the Future. Colin also visited the Olympic Park as work on building the aquatics centre three months ahead of schedule 'officially' started http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2008-07/construction-starts-early-on-major-venue.php. The end of the week sees Colin meeting with representatives of a GLA scrutiny committee looking at the provision of swimming pools in the capital.
Next week: Colin will be attending the Regional Swim 21 panel and looking at what our new Quality Co-ordinator Jemma Konuralp has managed to achieve since starting in June. Colin will also be the guest speaker at Sport England's Annual review at the Oval. Colin will also be attending the launch of the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport with Secretary of State Andy Burnham MP and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP. Colin will also be visiting the Age Groups in Sheffield with Stephen Hammond MP as part of his parliamentary sports fellowship.
This week Mark Griggs (EO) attended a new tutor-training day in the southeast, and was pleased to hear that a number of them would be pleased to work in London. Once the new tutors are fully trained Mark hopes they will help overcome the current tutor shortages.
CPD Seminars
Wed 6 Aug 08 - NPTS: Competitive Swimming, Dagenham Swimming Pool, Barking & Dagenham
Mon 8 Sep 08 - Introduction To Breaststroke, Sutton Civic Offices, Sutton
Sun 14 Sep 08 - NPTS:Aqua kids, Vale Farm Sports Centre, Brent
Tue 16 Sep 08 - Teaching Turns - The Basics, Bancroft's School, Redbridge
Mon 22 Sep 08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Finsbury Leisure Centre, Islington
Tue 7 Oct 08 - Introduction To Backcrawl, Bancroft's School, Redbridge
Mon 10 Nov 08 - NPTS: Competitive Swimming, Sutton Civic Offices, Sutton
Mon 10 Nov 08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Vale Farm Sports Centre, Brent
Tue 25 Nov 08 - Introduction To Butterfly, Bancroft's School, Redbridge
Mon 8 Dec 08 - Introduction To Backcrawl, Sutton Civic Offices, Sutton
UKCC Courses
Level 1 Teaching Aquatics
Sat 02 Aug 08 - Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, Waltham Forest
Sat 13 Sep 08 - Bancroft's School, Redbridge
Mon 20 Oct 08 - Whitgift School, Croydon
Mon 27 Oct 08 - Finsbury Leisure Centre, Islington
Level 2 Teaching Aquatics
Mon 11 Aug 08 - Hornchurch Sports Centre, Havering
Sat 06 Sep 08 - JAGS Sport Club, Southwark
Sat 01 Nov 08 - Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, Waltham Forest
Tue 11 Nov 08 - Dagenham Swimming Pool, Barking & Dagenham
For more information, to download booking forms, or funding opportunities for any IOS course or seminar, please visit www.londonswimming.org
Jo Calvino (Aquatic Programme Development Co-ordinator) is on annual leave this week.
Janna Callan (RDO) is on annual leave this week.
This week Jo Melchior (EDS-Lewisham) has been working closely alongside her colleague Tony Bagnall (Community Sports Coach for Swimming in Lewisham) organising and delivering TOP Up Festivals, and distributing vouchers to Year 6 pupils who are non / beginner swimmers to access intensive swimming lessons during the holidays. Jo has also started costing some of the exciting events / promotions planned for September and October, as part of a huge awareness, call to action campaign in the Borough. Jo and Tony have also worked on some special events for both Primary and Secondary schools during the September Term. There has also been collaboration between Everyday Swim and Lewisham on the Summer Free Swim where the project will provide the monitoring element and some additionality to delivery in the format of Roadshows at all four pools. Jo Melchior has also this week enlisted the help of London Swimming's newly appointed events specialist Jo Calvino to organise some specials days in September and October for Saxon Crown SC.
This week Annabel Kehoe (EDS-Islington) attended a working summit with Aquaterra Leisure where she contributed to the future plans of the company. Annabel also met with Paul Williams, Islington and Camden Competitions Manager, to discuss ways to add the other aquatic disciplines to various galas and festivals for Islington schools. The week concluded with Ironmonger Row Baths again playing host to training opportunities for Aquaterra wet staff. Vicki Gill delivered a Mini Water Polo and Aquafun CPD, in preparation of the activities offered over the summer at Islington’s pools.
Next week Annabel will be meeting with various interested parties, including Islington Children Services and the PCT, to discuss potential programming for a new hydrotherapy pool in the borough.
This week Jemma Konuralp (Swim21 Quality coordinator) has been very busy sorting out all of the documentation in respect of the Regional Swim21 Panel next week. She has also revisited Haringey Borough Swimming Club to conduct some further interviews in respect of their Swim21 assessment and attended an Equity training course in Loughborough. Next week she is visiting Romford Town Swimming Club to discuss reaccreditation next year along with attending the Swim21 panel. She will also be contacting all clubs due to revalidate in November.
Over the last couple of weeks Nikola Jovanovic (West London Waterpolo Coach) has spent time introducing mini polo to school swimming sessions in Hillingdon-Hayes and Highgrove pools, where more than 700 children have had the opportunity to play mini polo as a fun session. Nik also introduced mini polo to 14 young Level 1 swimming teachers, after the regular mini polo session at Survive and Save Club.
Last weekend at Highgrove pool Nik organised a mini polo tournament for children that were already regularly attending mini polo sessions around West London. 30 children took part, playing exciting matches and really enjoyed themselves, and were thrilled to receive medals for their efforts. This was a test tournament and the plan is to run more of those from September and to start school tournaments as well. On Sunday Nik was a tutor on a Mini polo CPD Course organised in Hayes. It was his first time tutoring but he enjoyed himself and is looking forward to tutoring again.
