The people of Yorkshire are being encouraged to take to the pool and raise money for Cancer Research.

‘Splash for Cash’ is a new fundraising initiative taking place throughout October and November, to raise vital funds that will be put towards Cancer Research at Bradford, Hull, York, Sheffield and Leeds universities.

Participants can swim as much or as little as they like, setting their own distance, date and pool venue. 

By using this initiative, Yorkshire Cancer Research is hoping to raise up to £15,000 and although there are no entry requirements, participants are being encouraged to raise as much money as possible for the charity.

Fundraising Team Manager Clair Challenor-Chadwick said: “One in three people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their lives and Yorkshire Cancer Research is the UK's largest regional medical research charity which funds research into the cause and cure for cancer.

“Splash for Cash is a great way to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research and to get people more involved with swimming.”

For more information and details onto register CLICK HERE

-ends-

For further details contact Natalie Hassall, Media Assistant on 01509 63236, or email natalie.hassall@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

Speedo® is the world's leading swimwear brand. Founded in Sydney in 1928 Speedo has over 75 years of heritage and expertise in swimwear and launched the FASTSKIN® FS-PRO, the fastest most powerful lightweight suit on the market, in 2007. Speedo is the Official Supplier to British Swimming and the ASA and provides valuable investment for swimming from grassroots through to elite level.
www.speedo.co.uk

About Kellogg
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain, FruitaBu and Special K snacks.

 

Building of Loughborough University’s unique sports management hub SportPark – which will be the new home to the asa and British Swimming – is to start following an official launch attended by swimming’s heroes today (Friday 10 October).

SportPark – a £15m development at the West end of the University campus, was launched with help from Paralympic swimming champion Sam Hynd and two Loughborough students; Olympic silver open water medallist David Davies and Olympic triathlete Hollie Avil.

Regional Minister for the East Midlands Phil Hope and MP for Loughborough Andy Reed were also on hand to mark the start of the building works.

SportPark will provide modern office accommodation for a variety of sporting organisations in a purpose built centre, which will encourage greater innovation, better sharing of good practice and access to specialist University sports services such as sports science support, sport research and the world-renowned Sports Technology Institute.

the asa, along with British Swimming’s World Class department, will be moving into four floors in the new building, relocating from its headquarters in Derby Square and various other locations around Loughborough in 2010.

David Sparkes, Chief Executive of the asa and British Swimming, said: 'We are excited to be working in partnership with Loughborough University and to be playing a significant part in creating the House of Sport, a unique new concept for British Sport.

'the asa, as the national governing body concerned with every element of swimming, provides leadership to the industry and we not only teach many children to swim, setting them on the road to an active life, we also deliver Olympic Champions like Rebecca Adlington.

'This development will secure the future of our sport because it will provide a modern, efficient environment from which we can further develop our work and will ensure we deliver our Vision.
 
'Because the House of Sport will be home to a range of leading organizations and experts from the whole range of sports I am sure we will be able to share and inspire great ideas between the sports and this will also benefit swimming. As a sport, swimming can only benefit from being in this exciting environment. It will also offer state-of-the-art facilities for the dedicated staff that work for the asa and British Swimming.'

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Pearce also outlined how SportPark will further Loughborough’s position as the leading centre for sport.

“The Government, Sport England and UK Sport place increasing emphasis on the importance of our national governing bodies for sport,” she said. “This project is a real example of how determined we are at Loughborough to maintain our position as the engine room of sports development in the UK. I pay a particular tribute to the asa who showed leadership in this project as the anchor tenant

“SportPark is an important partnership between the University and the sports governing bodies. It will enable sports organisations to benefit from co-location and to share information and expertise to maximise efficiency.

“Located next to the pioneering Sports Technology Institute, and close to the world class facilities, support services and research offered on campus, SportPark provides the ultimate base for any sports body striving for excellence.” 

Nottinghamshire based building contractors Baggaley Construction are undertaking the work which is due for completion by the end of 2009. More tenants are expected to be announced by the end of the year.

The English Schools' Swimming Association (ESSA) has agreed to work with the asa to develop a new programme to motivate secondary school children to swim more often and have more fun in the pool.

The two organisations will examine how they can remodel some of the ESSA’s competitions for children in Key Stage 3 and 4 (ages 11-16) and increase participation.

This will involve building on their joint experiences, in particular the 60 years of ESSA working in this area and the work with the Youth Sport Trust, which includes running Festivals of Swimming for children aged 7-11.

Specifically, the idea is to evolve the ESSA’s National Swimming Championships for Secondary Schools so the focus becomes encouraging as many children as possible to take to the water and participate in swimming as a sport, with the aim of making swimming a life-long activity. The event would also be widened to welcome the different aquatic disciplines.

David Sparkes, Chief Executive of the asa, said: “The ESSA Championships are a well established fixture on the school swimming calendar but, as with all things, events most evolve to keep people motivated in them.

“The asa’s involvement in the ESSA Championships has always been to give more people the opportunity to swim and we feel that by altering the ethos of the Championships we can increase the opportunities for young people to get involved and have fun in the water.

“We see this as a very positive move to inspire more young people to be more active throughout their lives and to fight childhood obesity and we congratulate the ESSA on taking this bold step of meeting the challenge in this area”
John Stiven, Hon. General Secretary of the ESSA said: “The ESSA welcomes this opportunity to continue to work with the asa in the development of competitions for school children. This is the latest phase of the work we have undertaken together to produce the ‘Competition Framework’ instigated by the Youth Sports Trust.”

The asa will be working with ESSA over the coming months to work out the exact details of the new competition programme and a final document will be put out for consultation in Jan 2009, with the aim of launching the new plan in summer 2009.
It is then anticipated that pilot programmes would run in 2010 and the sport would have a full roll out in 2011.

-ENDS-

For more information contact the asa PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About Kellogg
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain, FruitaBu and Special K snacks.

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

 

Swimmers in Suffolk are being given the chance to get into the pool with Olympic Champion Duncan Goodhew through the county's Big Weekend campaign.
 
Attractions, art and sport venues are offering thousands of free places to Suffolk residents to mark the start of the four years leading up to the 2012 Olympics, known as the Cultural Olympiad. 
 
"Suffolk's Big Weekend is all about showing the residents of Suffolk that there are some wonderful things for them to enjoy right on their doorstep - and many of them are free! I am delighted that Everyday Swim are getting involved in this great initiative and to have Olympic champion Duncan Goodhew in our county is a fantastic honour", said Alex Paul, Tourism Manager of the Suffolk Tourism Partnership, who are coordinating the campaign in partnership with Suffolk County Council.

Five Suffolk pools, Newmarket, Mildenhall, Crown Pools, Sudbury and Hadleigh are giving away free swim vouchers and having special activities.  Duncan will be specifically visiting organised events at Crowns Pools, Ipswich; Kingfisher Pool in Sudbury; and Hadleigh Swimming Pool.
 
Kingfisher Pool, Sudbury will be holding a question and answer session at 10:00am on Saturday 11 October with Duncan Goodhew, who won Gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, swimming 100m breaststroke.  It will be possible to ask Duncan about his experiences and even get some tips to improve your own swimming technique.  After that he will be in the water with a group of adults who have taken up the Everyday Swim offer to learn to swim for £10 and children who have won the chance to have a coaching session with him.
 
Duncan will be at Crown pools in Ipswich from 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon with those who have won a competition to have a swimming lesson with him. If you are interested in having a swimming session with Duncan, you can apply for 1 or 5 free lessons online at www.suffolksbigweekend.co.uk.  It doesn't matter what level of swimmer you are.  Entries close on Thursday 9th October.  There are 50 free swimming vouchers available too.
 
Finally, Duncan will be talking to those who are currently learning to swim at Hadleigh pool on Sunday 12 October morning from 9.30am - 11.15am.  There will be a fun session from 10:30am using the equipment from the Everyday Swim liquid trailer, which includes sea scooters, kayaks and snorkelling equipment.
 
All the pools who are taking part are giving away free swim vouchers over the weekend which can be down loaded from www.suffolksbigweekend.co.uk.   Why not take a look and get back into the pool over the big weekend.
 
Duncan's visit over the Suffolk's Big Weekend has been coordinated by Everyday Swim Suffolk which is a project between the Amateur Swimming Association, the national governing body for swimming, and Suffolk County Council to encourage more people to swim for leisure, fitness and fun.
 
-ENDS- 
www.suffolksbigweekend.co.uk
 
For more information tel: Corinna Hudson, EveryDay Swim Suffolk : 0781 802 5794 or Alex Paul, Suffolk Tourism Partnership : 01473 694416
 
 
 

 

Two women from Telford, whose lives have been transformed by swimming, have been nominated to receive awards from the county sports partnership in Shropshire.

Yvonne Richardson and Marion Shepard have been nominated for the Health Improvement Through Physical Activity Award at the Energize Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Awards.

Their swimming instructor Anne Staples has also been put forward for Coach of the Year category at the awards, which aim to celebrate and reward the success and achievements in sport and physical activity in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin over the past year.

They will find out on Thursday 16th October 2008 if they have been successful.

Richardson and Shepard, who are both visually impaired, had not done any physical activity for over 15 years since their sight deteriorated. But thanks to the Everyday Swim project – which runs in Telford with the aim of getting disabled people back into the water – they were able to access a swimming instructor, Staples, who helped them improve their technique and act as a guide in the water.

As a result both were able to gain the confidence and ability to swim – and have since gone onto other physical activities as well. The project even thought about their Guide Dogs, Bart and Lucas, and now both dogs can now be securely left thanks to loops now installed at Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre.

Richardson said: “The best thing about being able to swim again is that we can have fun the same as everybody else. None of this would be possible though without the help and support of others.

“Both of us have noticed how swimming is improving our health. Marion's arthritis and stamina have improved and in regards mine, I have lost nearly 5 stone, my breathing has improved. I feel fitter and I have more stamina.”

While Shepard added: “It has made a huge, huge difference to us. It has given us confidence in the water and in life. We are not different in the water.”

The duo were nominated by Telford and Wrekin’s Everyday Swim coordinator Matt Shields who has been overwhelmed by their progress and the fact that, having experienced first hand the wider role that swimming can play in people’s lives, they have become Everyday Swim ‘Champions’. 

Shields said: “Since their vision deteriorated they thought that they wouldn't be able to swim again. Through their companionship, bravery and the support of the Everyday Swim project they have been proven wrong.

“As Champions, Yvonne and Marion regularly find the time to tell their stories to diverse audiences and encourage people, particularly disabled people, to take up swimming and the difference physical activity has made to their lives.

“It is people like Yvonne and Marion that are catalysts and instigate the culture change required to bring people back to the pool.  Their story has inspired people and, on the flip side, has shamed people to start or swim more often.”

Shields also nominated swimming instructor Anne Staples for her dedication and warmth to Everyday Swim. “Anne has been an integral part of the delivery of Everyday Swim and has always gone beyond the call of duty to ensure participants feel comfortable and confident in all aspects of their swimming experience,” he said.

While Richardson added: “We owe special thanks to Anne Staples for her time, wonderful support and encouragement both in and out of the pool, but most of all her sense of humour and patience with putting up with us two.”

Anne has also been instrumental in delivering sessions in a Hydro Therapy Pool for babies and toddlers with disabilities, aided children who have limited access to pools and had previous bad experiences, and developed a training session around accessing pools and supporting disabled people in the water.

Alongside her commitment towards the Everyday Swim project she also supports school swimming, the Top Up programme and a swimming club, as well as acting as a County swimming coach and as the Treasurer for the Telford and Wrekin Swimming Forum.

The Energize Awards 2008, in association with Paycare, will take place on Thursday 16 October at the Prostar Stadium, home of Shrewsbury Town Football Club from 6.30pm.  Tickets for the awards cost £20 and include entry to the awards, a three course meal, complimentary drink at the reception and the chance to hear the inspirational former pentathlete Dame Mary Peters speak about her experiences.

Chris Child, Partnership Manager of Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin commented, “I would like to invite local people and organisations to come to the awards evening and not only hear what Dame Mary has to say, but to also hear the inspirational stories of our nominees.”

Tickets can be purchased by contacting 01743 255079 or emailing paula.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk .

-ENDS-

For more information contact the asa PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

Everyday Swim is a national project led by the asa (the national governing body concerned with every element of swimming) with investment of £3m from Sport England and over £1m from local partners.  Everyday Swim is about encouraging people to swim for leisure, fitness and fun. It has pioneered new ways of making all pool activity more accessible and popular, with the aim of getting more people swimming and find out ‘what works’ in getting more people into our pools.

About Kellogg
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain, FruitaBu and Special K snacks.

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Experienced Olympic coach Ben Titley has been chosen to head up British Swimming’s new Intensive Training Centre (ITC) at Loughborough University.

Titley, who has worked at Loughborough for a number of years, will take up the position of head coach while Kevin Renshaw, coach to Olympic medallist David Davies taking on the role as Senior Coach at the Loughborough University ITC.

Titley has been involved with the swimming programme at Loughborough University since 1996 and believes the introduction of the ITCs will take swimming in Britain to new heights.

“I think the ITCs are an excellent concept and will provide opportunities for as many swimmers as possible all over the country,” said Titley. “They will act as hubs where performance swimming is a priority and people will have the chance to buy into that.

“The goal going forward for Loughborough is to create one of the best swimming programmes in the world. Working alongside Kevin Renshaw and the university, the aim is to build the strongest possible team environment for performance swimming, in terms of staff, support and athletes.

“We want as many swimmers winning international medals as possible while nurturing and developing and 2012 prospects.”

British Swimming National Performance Director Michael Scott has been the driving force behind the implementation of the ITC network and is pleased to welcome Titley onto the programme.

“Ben has been involved with the Loughborough programme for a number of years and has also served British Swimming in the role of National Women's Coach in recent times,” said Scott.

“Ben's programme in Loughborough saw him produce four swimmers for the Beijing Olympic team with the most notable of these being Liam Tancock who in 2008 broke the world record for 50m backstroke.”

For Scott the ITC network has been s a priority since his arrival as it is a major component of his strategic plan for the sport from 2008 through to London 2012 and beyond.

British Swimming will operate ITCs at key 50m pool and training facilities at the University of Bath, Stirling, Stockport, Wales National Pool in Swansea and Loughborough University.

“These centres will provide a one stop shop service point for swimmers and coaches – the aim is to provide everything they need in their development from the right amount of 50m pool time to sports science support,” said Scott.

British Swimming’s new programme Head Coach Dennis Pursley believes the ITCs are a fundamental step forward for the sport and believes even greater success will follow.

“We are extremely excited about the ITC programme as it will give British swimmers a significant advantage over most of their competitors,” said Pursley.

“There are very few training opportunities in the world of swimming that offer world class coaching, highly qualified support staff and ideal training conditions with an exclusive focus on preparation for peak performance in major international competition.

“Nowhere in the world will British swimmers find uncompromised training opportunities more conducive to success in major international competition than in the ITC programme."

Loughborough University is looking forward to building on it’s close relationship with British Swimming with the introduction of the ITC.

Andy Borrie Head of Performance Sport at the University said: “Loughborough University is delighted to have been selected as and part of the new ITC network as well as continuing it’s role as a British Swimming National Centre of Excellence

“This is an extension of the effective partnership that Loughborough and BS have forged over the past four years and we are looking forward to build on that heading towards the London games in 2012.

“The selection of Ben Titley and Kevin Renshaw as the ITC coaches at Loughborough means that the ITC will be staffed by two world class coaches who both have a fantastic track record in producing world class swimmers.

“We have great expectations for the next four years and believe that the Loughborough ITC will continue producing world champions and Olympic medallists."

-ends-

For further details contact Dave Richards, British Swimming Media Manager, on 01509 632237, 0778 992 6136 or email dave.richards@swimming.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

With the asa Masters Championships taking place in Ponds Forge between 24th – 26th October Masters Swimmers have been invited to celebrate their achievements at the asa Masters Pasta Party.

The party will take place in the Skyline Suite in Ponds Forge and will take place at 7:30pm with tickets costing £10.00 each.

The menu will include a number of pasta and rice dishes which will include a vegetarian option. A range of sweets will also be available.

For tickets please contact 01509 632266

 -ENDS-

Alistair Gray, a leading strategy consultant with vast experience of the sporting sector, has been appointed as the new Chairman of British Swimming.

Gray, the founder and Managing Director of Genesis, has led major strategic reviews of many sporting governing bodies and will spearhead British Swimming’s Board up to 2012.

The reviews include those carried out for The FA, The LTA, Scottish Rugby, Irish Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. He is also a World Class Adviser to UK Sport and Sport England and has been asked by them to carry out many of their most complex and sensitive reviews.

He famously reviewed Irish Football after the public quarrel between Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy in the warm up to the 2002 World Cup, and has conrtinued to work with the sport as it has modernised since that review.

And Gray said he was really looking forward to leading British Swimming’s work. He added: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with British Swimming at this time in its life, especially with the imminent prospect of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. The sport has performed well in recent years, in and out of the water.

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues on the board and our executives to make Swimming even more successful in the future. I hope my style and experience will add to the considerable capabilities of the people in the sport.”

Gray has chaired a number of companies and other organisations including the Scottish Institute of Sport and British Performance Basketball, as well as being a founding director of the Winning Scotland Foundation and former Chairman, President and Honorary President of Scottish Hockey on a voluntary basis.

Other major development initiatives (that have contributed to the performance of a number of sports) include those with Scottish Swimming, England Netball and Scottish Golf.

Maureen Campbell, the Chair of Scottish Swimming and the Scottish representative on the British Swimming Board, said: “Scottish Swimming is delighted to have Alistair join the board of British Swimming. He has already made a significant contribution to the high performance sport agenda in Scotland though his work at the Scottish Institute of Sport.

“He has an excellent ability to bring focus and clarity to complex challenges. We are confident he will make an equally valuable contribution to the development of British Swimming and wish him every success in his new role.”

Gray has also worked extensively in international management with Unilever and the John Wood Group PLC. He has 26 years experience in strategic consulting internationally and is a former non-executive director of Highland Distillers plc, AorTech International plc and is currently on the strategy committee of two other PLCs.

He was recently appointed an Honorary Professor in Sport Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland’s University of Sporting Excellence. He is also a visiting Professor at Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) participating on their International Masters Programme.

-ENDS-

For more information contact the asa PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Swimming clubs have the chance to take their share of a groundbreaking £130m Grassroots Grants scheme.

The government’s Grassroots Grants are calling on small local voluntary and community groups to come forward and get their hands on essential funding. The Grants aim to make a real and immediate difference to the work of any small and local community groups with annual incomes below £20,000.

Whether it's helping local clubs get hold of new kit or coaching new volunteers, the programme, funded by the Office of The Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and administered by the Community Development Foundation, offers grants of between £250 and £5,000 to support activities that lie right at the heart of our local communities.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said: "Our communities are teeming with thousands of small groups and individuals who work tirelessly to tackle local problems and this £130million fund is dedicated to supporting their efforts. Grassroots Grants will put essential cash in the hands of small local voluntary groups without all the paperwork required for larger grants."

To keep the process as simple and easy as possible for applicants, the money is being distributed directly through local funders; slightly larger local organisations already based in the community and selected because they are familiar with the needs and causes in each area.

Local, regional and national businesses were also invited to get involved through investing in the scheme's innovative endowment match challenge; the first of its kind in England.

Within the programme, the Government has set aside a £50million pot from which it will match endowment investments from businesses. This offers businesses the chance to contribute directly to supporting and sustaining the communities in which they operate.

The endowment element, which is also open to individual investors, aims to ensure that that Grassroots Grants remain available for many years to come. It is estimated that with match funding and sound investment this £50million could be worth as much as £150million when it starts paying out in 2011. In addition, as Gift Aid can be claimed on donations to a charity, a £1,000 match-funded contribution from an individual would be worth £2,560 to the fund.

CLICK HERE for more details on how to access the grants.