Owing to a late withdrawal, a place has become available to enrol on the Aquatics Apprenticeship in Barking & Dagenham.  This programme is a fully funded training package delivered over 12 months and you will be paid to train.  This is a full-time commitment and includes: National Pool Lifeguard Qualification; Level 1 Teacher of Aquatics; Level 2 Teacher of Aquatics; Flip N Fun CPD; AquaFun CPD; Mini-Snorkeling CPD; Mini-Polo CPD; Teaching Disabled Swimmers; Adult & Child Teacher; An NVQ in Activity Management; SCUK Child Protection Training.

All relevant work-based experience

If you are interested please contact Bastien as a matter of urgency on 076796691005 email bastien.wallace@swimming.org

Get Wet! Swim for Free, based in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, needs to ‘grow’ some more Aqua Circuits Instructors to help us deliver an expanded offering to Under 18’s & over 60’s.  We are now able to extend the offer of funded, CPD accredited training for Level 2-3 Group Fitness Instructors, Gym Instructors & Personal Trainers beyond the Borough boundaries to any suitable person who is prepared to commit to teaching classes in Barking & Dagenham’s Leisure Centres.

Full details available here.

  

If you would like to book any master class with London swimming please see www.londonswimming.org.uk for further information.

 

 

The London Swimming Spring Conference is confirmed set to take place on Saturday 23rd May at Colfes School, SE12 8AW, with a focus on club development. The conference will provide an update for clubs on London Swimming’s strategy, Individual Medley Master Class with double Olympic swimmer, Commonwealth medalist and eight-times British Champion Adrian Turner, Team Manager Training, Supporting your athlete while injured, a physios guide for parents, and a session on how to get funding and running your club. More details will be available shortly online. To book a place on one the master classes on the day click here.

 

There has been an important change to Official Sports London’s funding practice.

Funding is now available for retrospective applications - Londoners aged 16+ who have completed or started an eligible course since 23^rd October 08 can now apply for funding relating to that course including course costs, equipment and uniform costs, license, membership and registration fees.  Applicants will have to supply receipts for costs relating to items previously paid for and purchased.

This funding is only available for the next 4 months. All clubs need more officials so encourage all your members to get involved.  For more details click here

 

The 2009 London ASA Aquaforce Volunteer Awards were officially launched this week. Many volunteers give their time and energy at club and county level, and this annual event celebrates those outstanding contributions that volunteers make to the ASA. The Awards are an opportunity for the asa, County Associations, clubs and individuals to say thank you to the exceptional people that help to deliver our sport so successfully. 

Full details available here.

Some clubs have been suspended from membership of the ASA due to non payment of the 2009 membership fee. Members whose fee paying club is suspended for non-payment of fees will not be eligible to compete in events under the jurisdiction of the ASA which Includes Regional, County and open events. Furthermore the members are not covered by the ASA insurance policy.

Details of suspension are available here.

 

The new Licensing Scheme for Aquatic Professionals: Teachers and Coaches has been launched. To coincide with this, the ASA are offering 500 free licences to its teachers and coaches so they can show they are committed to continuous improvement and professional development.

These individual licences are available on a strictly first-come, first-served basis and all applications must be received by 30th June 2009.

Full details of the new scheme are available here.

Francesca Marr (15) performed the swim off her life at the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield this month to book her place on the British team that will compete at the European Junior Championships in Prague on the first week of July 2009. Details available here.

BRENT Dolphins took third place overall In the North London Graded League gala, held in their home pool at Willesden Sports Centre. The league has been running for over 20 years. There are currently 10 teams in the league, each team holds their own gala each year and compete in 5 others (6 in total).

Well done to Tom Baxter who has been selected to swim for Great Britain at the forthcoming Deaflympics, which will be held in Taipei in September 2009.Tom Baxter, 15, was chosen from other hopeful youngsters last weekend at the GB Deaf Swimming Championships held at Loughborough University, and will compete in several events against other deaf swimmers from around the world. Congratulations Tom!!!

 

ASA Masters Newsletter is now available as an e-newsletter

ASA National Masters Results 1981 to 1999 are now available as pdfs

 

Please find details of a Level 1 Water Polo course, the course is running in conjunction with a Water Polo Camp that has been organised by London Swimming and asa East Region, details attached.

The Level 1 course consists of 2 units. Unit 1 is Generic, this means that candidates can attach to any local UKCC Level 1 course to complete this unit, some candidates have already done this! Unit 2 is specific to Water Polo and dates are Thurs/Fri 28/29 May 09-a Flyer for this unit is attached. Unit 1 must be completed before Unit 2.

Further details available here.

 

Work is underway lifting the 2800 tonne wave-shaped roof of the Zaha Hadid designed London 2012 Aquatics Centre. The lift is considered one of the most complex engineering and construction challenges of the Olympic Park ‘big build’.

The Aquatics Centre will mark the ‘gateway’ to the Olympic Park during the 2012 Games and in legacy will provide elite and community facilities that London does not currently have, including two 50m swimming pools and a diving pool.

Full details available here.

 

For more information on courses, dates and venues, to download booking forms, or details of funding opportunities please click here. 

This week Colin Brown (RD) has seen the launch of Free Swimming in the Eltham Centre in Greenwich (link) as well as the second round of interviews for the new post of Aquatics Manager for Greenwich. The rest of the week has been tied up with staff appraisals. Next week: Colin will be completing the remaining staff appraisals as well as attending the West London Leisure Officers meeting to update them on mobile pools and Free Swimming.

 

Last week saw Jo Melchior (Everyday Swim – Lewisham) sprinting hard for the finish line in her Everyday Swim Project. The booklets and banner campaign was formally launch last week across all the sites to coincide with Free Swimming to up the profile of swimming and the pools, Jo also completed the outstanding finance, reporting and monitoring issues, and ended the week as the Starter at the Lewisham Primary Schools Gala. Jo battled to be heard over 300 noisy children and equally noisy supporters, however with a lifetime of teaching and coaching experience her vocal chords rose to the occasion.

This week has seen the final projects coming to an end; these were Teens Mums, Refugee Family Swimming and Children Centres U5 classes. Jo now moves to an exciting new challenge with London Swimming starting this week with the project management of another temporary pool, this time located in the London Borough of Brent. Jo will still have an involvement with Lewisham going throughout April overseeing the finalising of the Strategic Review as this is an objective shared between the Everyday Swim project and London Swimming. 

 

Bastien Wallace (Project Manager Barking & Dagenham) 3^rd of April, 2009

Last weekend I entered a whole new world of breathing under water ‘for real’ – not just writing newsletters about it.  Completing a scuba-diving course was an unattainable dream till quite recently – and James and I have studied hard, passed the exams and pool work last weekend, but then wait to go to warmer seas to finish the open water element. 

This week I’ve had the pleasure of meeting our new Aquatics Apprentices!  These ladies & gentlemen put in a brilliant performance during college skills tests, their swim test and at interview.  It is my pleasure to congratulate: Funmike, Jade, James, John, Jon, Michael , Max and Robert! Unlike TV reality shows, we will now invest in training and developing these people over the next 12 months -  so they can all aspire to hearing the phrase ‘You’re hired’ by the end of their tenure.  They begin their NPLQ training on Monday!

We are urgently seeking anyone with a REPS Level 2 qualification in Group Fitness Instructing or Gym Instructing to receive funded Aqua Circuits Training and opportunities to work during the day in Barking & Dagenham Leisure Centres.   This would be ideal for someone who currently teaches, or has other responsibilities in the afternoon or evening, and wants to fit a bit more work in during the day.  Training takes place on the 18, 19 & 26^th of April so please contact Bastien (tel: 076796691005 email bastien.wallace@swimming.org) to register your interest ASAP.

 

This week Jemma Konuralp (Swim21 Quality co-ordinator) conducted the assessment interview with the Head Coach of Greenwich Borough Mariners which we very well. She also had a fantastic assessment with Croydon Amphibians. Next week she is meeting with Killerwales of Havering in respect of accreditation, Bexley SC in respect of revalidation and is carrying out assessments with both Dagenham and Bethnal Green Sharks.