Olympian Duncan Goodhew has good news for Sussex swimming clubs hit by lockdown

Grants between £250 and £1,000 will be given to small swimming and aquatic organisations who have been impacted by the effects of Covid-19. These range from National Governing Body Affiliated Swim Clubs, Aquatic Clubs and Swim Schools to Independent Swimming Organisations.

Swimathon President and Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew MBE, said: “I’m thrilled that we’re able to support members of the Sussex swimming community at this difficult time. Almost all swimming clubs are run by a few individuals who put in an immense amount of voluntary time to keep clubs afloat. Now that hard times have hit, they may be really struggling with all of the costs associated. These are the unsung heroes of the sport and it’s so important that we do all we can to help them get through this tough time.”

To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants should either be a registered or affiliated club or swim school with a National Governing Body or a small, local swimming organisation that may not be a traditional swim club/school but is working on local level to provide swimming or aquatic activity in their communities. Applicants are welcomed from all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

‘Swimathon’ is the UK’s biggest annual recreational swimming event taking place over one weekend at over 600 pools across the UK with 750,000 people taking part since the first event in 1986, raising over £50 million for charities in the process. This year’s event has been rearranged for 16-18 October.

For more information about The Swimathon Foundation and to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Fund grant, visit www.swimathonfoundation.org.

The Swimathon Foundation was formed to protect the long-term future of the Swimathon Events and is the owner of those events.

It selects the Swimathon's principal charity partners, which receive the majority of the fundraising income and operates a community scheme under which grants of between £300 and £2,500 are made to local pools, operators, clubs, community organisations and charities that can demonstrate how funding will allow them to help more people participate in and enjoy the benefits of swimming.

For further information visit the Swimathon Foundation website at: www.swimathonfoundation.org.

Since its launch as an annual event Swimathon has seen over 700,000 participants at over 1,200 different pools across the UK swimming for the challenge and raising money for charity. Swimathon attracts swimmers of all levels from experienced Swimathon participants to complete novices and this is reflected in the different challenges available to those taking part.