Weekly News 21/01/2008

Colin Brown (RD) - The week has been dominated by administration on our two major funded projects Beacon and Water Polo. The work highlight has definitely been seeing Haringey Swimming Club in action who we are looking to twin with London Dolphins from South Africa and establish an exchange programme between athletes, parents and coaches. The personal highlight has been my four-month-old daughters Megan first trip to a swimming pool she lasted 15 mins in the water and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This trip was in preparation for her attending the launch of Swim Gospel at Wavelengths Pool in Lewisham on Saturday. This is the latest innovative project to encourage participation from this Everyday Swim Project.

Next week: Will see a return to Kingston Borough to take forward their draft pool strategy and to start to build the case for one of the 2012 legacy pools. The London Swimming Team will also be attending the annual ASA staff day at Centre Parcs (Nottingham).

This week Gita Sheth (Administrator) has spent a lot of the time dealing with general enquiries to the London Swimming office, and the variety they provide have kept her really busy. Arrangements have been made for the appraisal training day next Tuesday, and the Staff Day on Thursday.

Last Week Mark Griggs (EO) attended an number of meetings, including a south East and London Tutor meeting, where the tutors where update on the last developments in WFD and ideas on programming courses where discussed. Mark also spent a couple of days in Loughborough in meeting with the other education officers and IOS support staff.

This Month there are still two ASA Level 1 Teaching Aquatics courses with places, one at Bancroft' School, starting on 26 Jan and the other at JAGs Sports Club, starting 2 Feb. The following CPDs still have spaces:


Sat 26-Jan-08 - Flip N Fun - Hornchurch Sports Centre, Havering
Sun 27-Jan-08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children - Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, Waltham Forest
Mon 28-Jan-08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children - Jags Sports Centre, Southwark
Mon 4-Feb-08 - Safeguarding & Protecting Children - Edmonton Leisure Centre, Enfield

Mark would also like to remind everyone of the changes to the 66% funding from the skills active coaching bursaries.

Ø You can apply after your course has taken place, as long is it between (1 October 2007 - 14 January 2008)
Ø You can apply for funding all UKCC Level 1, 2, 3 courses starting before (31 March 2008)
Ø You can be engaged swimming in any form e.g. Swimming Club, Working at a Leisure Centre
Ø All 20 hours won't have to be with people over the age of 16 years old
If you are not sure, APPLY as long as the impact of your coaching/teaching will be felt in London.
Extent of Funding
66% funding for all ASA/UKCC courses at Levels 1,2 & 3 run thorough the IOS
Requirements
To qualify for the bursary, you must:
Ø Be currently engaged in swimming, diving, synchronised swimming or water polo either as volunteer or a paid member of staff.
Ø Cover 33% of the course fee yourself.
Ø Once qualified demonstrate delivery of 20 or more hours of quality coaching in London
For More Information
Contact : Miriam Farley Tel : 020 7632 2000
Web : www.skillsactive.com/coachingbursary


For Course Booking Enquires, please contact Jo Staats – joanne.staats@swimming.org tel : 01509 615463
For Seminar Booking Enquires, please contact Vikki Newbon - seminars@swimming.org tel : 01509 618752

For more information of upcoming courses and advice on which courses is best for you please visit www.londonswimming.org

Last week Janna Callan (RDO) had a disability theme to her work. Janna met with CP Sport, the Regional Talent Disability Coach for London Alison Frost and the London Disability Squad Coach Michelle Weltman. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the multi sports day on the 6th of February was all set and to clarify each person's role. For more information http://www.londonswimming.org/news/article/display/185

Next week, Janna will be working on the Swim21 process and providing feedback to Dagenham Swimming Club and Erith and District Swimming Club on the work they have done so far.

Last week Cathy Carr (RDO) had a very interesting meeting with Haringey Swimming club around Borough pathways and Disability Swimming and a productive meeting in Brent with the West 2012 legacy officer around swimming research. Next week Cathy will be working on Borough pathways administration of audits and attending ASA appraisal training. In the middle of the week Cathy will be visiting Barnet Copthall Swimming Club to assess their Swim 21 and heading to Nottingham for the ASA staff day. Cathy will also be attending the February ASA London & South East Region Long Course Meet over the weekend.

Last week Annabel Kehoe (EDS-Islington), saw a big take-up of the Liquid Swim Programme at Cally Pool. The customer feedback has been really positive and the staff members at Cally Pool have been tremendously supportive and proactive in ensuring the success of this project - a big thank you to them! Annabel also met the Children's Centres for Islington working group and discussed some upcoming opportunities with the new centre at Golden Lane.
Next week Annabel will be attending the London Swimming training day, as well as the ASA Staff Day.


This week has seen Jo Melchior (EDS – Lewisham), working alongside colleagues from the British Gospel Arts and the Leisure Operators to induct staff and develop the content of the classes that will be delivered through the Swim Gospel project. Also work has been done this week in respect of the monitoring forms required by one of the projects principal funders. Thursday saw Jo touring colleagues from Newham and Pro-Active East around the Borough and meeting key partners who help drive the project, and sharing best practice. This weekend sees the launch of Swim Gospel, Swim Festivals and Come & Try sessions in Water Polo and Synchro, a busy weekend in Lewisham.

Jo Calvino – (RDO Diving) spent most of the week catching up with the Regional Diving Managers and finalising National events mainly skills. She had a meeting with Hillingdon regarding setting up a Diving Programme and club, which would be a good development for Diving in West London.
Over the weekend Jo has organized a development squad weekend for divers in the SW Region in Plymouth, which she will be attending.

Next week is a busy one for Ellie Purvis (Tutor for London and South East Regions), who will finish tutoring the UKCC Level 1 in Dagenham, before heading off to Nottingham on Wednesday in readiness for the ASA Staff Day on Thursday.
On Saturday Ellie will be delivering a level 1 at the Jags Sports Centre in Southwark, where Kat Rollet who is attending, is investigating the issue of elearning, while on Sunday Ellie has a Rookie Pilot presentation.