Swim England East Region has a bursary scheme to assist our East Region athletes selected to be part of British Swimming or England Talent teams from an East Region club (all disciplines). The region appreciates we are all going through challenging times still, and with increasing costs it is important we assist our members to be able to take advantage of such selections and opportunities.
For more information please visit our bursaries and funding webpage.
Swim England’s updated transgender and non-binary competition policy has inclusion and fairness at its very heart. In order for all aquatic disciplines to be enjoyed as sport, there must be inclusive opportunities for transgender participants to compete.
This policy refers only to Swim England competitions (including those organised by our member Regions, Counties and Clubs) and will be implemented on 1 September 2023.
Timeline:
Leagues and series of events (such as club champs):
A league or a series of events may wish to licence a final (or some of the events within a series) that occurs after 1 September. If some of the events are due to take place prior to 1 September then special dispensation can be given to the licensed elements after this date and can fall under the same Policy used for the first part of the league. Any licensed series of events (or part of) starting after 1 September will require adherence to the new policy.
Clarifying the female category birth sex:
The new Policy requires athletes who want to compete in the Female category to confirm their birth sex.
We would like to encourage Promoters to add to their conditions a statement to confirm that by entering the meet the athlete is confirming that if they are entering the Female category, and as such confirm they were born with a birth sex of female. Below is an example of such a statement;
The Female category is for birth sex females in accordance with Swim England’s Transgender and Non-Binary Competition Policy. By entering the ‘Female’ category, a swimmer confirms that their birth sex is female.
To view the policy please click here: Swim England Transgender Non-Binary Competition Policy
Should you have any questions or want more information about the policy please email: [email protected]
Swim England have published a new policy regarding the supervision ratios for clubs within aquatics.
Previously, the guidance was in Wavepower and within Swim England’s Team Manager training, however, as part of our commitment to providing a safe environment for all members, a new policy is being introduced.
You can view both the policy and FAQ’s here: https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/swim-england-relases-supervision-ratios-policy/
If you have any queries, please contact: [email protected]
Swim England is updating its safeguarding training requirements for all members who require a DBS check as part of their role in aquatics and in accordance with Wavepower.
From January 1 2024, the national governing body will only accept Swim England Safeguarding training for those working within our clubs, counties and regions as part of our commitment set out in the Heart of Aquatics
This change will be mandatory, with a phasing-in period for those who hold existing approved safeguarding training that will be valid until its expiry date. For those who have not previously completed a Swim England tutor-led course, this will be the first step to achieving compliance.
The expectation is that members will complete a three-hour tutor-led course as initial training – which is valid for three years – followed by a refresher course three years later so that training can move in a six-year cycle. This update also addresses a gap in the national governing bodies’ training policy to cover 16 and 17-year-olds who are in a ‘Position of Trust’.
From the start of next year, Swim England Safeguarding Training will be required for those in this age group that are in coaching or teaching roles and are delivering a Swim England-recognised activity.
If you have any queries, please contact: [email protected]
The final information in respect of the Luton weekend of our Championships is now available
Please note that timings differ from those originally published, but only by a few minutes.
The first National Welfare online Forum will be held on Wednesday 26th April starting at 6pm and will be co-hosted by the Swim England Governance and Safeguarding teams.
Club, County and Region Welfare Officers are invited to attend and are asked to register via: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NationalWelfareForum
The next Connecting with Coaches sessions will be led by Swim England’s Head of Safeguarding Kevin Suckling and Sport Governance and Welfare Manager Helen Weeks who will be providing an update on Safeguarding including the new team and focus, what happens when a concern is raised to the team and dispelling myths around coach investigations and suspensions. The sessions will also include an update on the governance review of clubs managed or run by other organisations and a three point check list for coaches working with their club committees to ensure they feel fully supported.
Two sessions will be taking place on Friday 5th May 12.30-13.30 and Tuesday 9th May 18.30-19.30. Please use the link to register for one or both of these sessions: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ConnectwithCoaches
There will be an opportunity to ask questions at both sessions however to ensure the sessions run to time please send any questions you may have and would like sharing in the session (these can remain anonymous if preferred) to [email protected]
Open Water Technical Officials Course
These dates are primarily aimed at new Open Water officials, they can either be completely new to officiating or hold an officiating qualification in another discipline. However, any existing Level 1 officials who wish to upskill please complete the survey so that we can establish demand for a session just for this purpose.
The cost of the course is £20 for new officials, which will include a practical logbook and their first licence upon qualification, or £15 if they already hold a licence in another discipline. The cost for the upskilling course will be advised once demand has been established.
The link to register interest in the courses is https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SEOWTO23 – please pass this on to anyone who may have previously expressed an interest in Open Water officiating.
If you have any questions please get in touch with [email protected]
The IOS have announced dates for several L2 Coaching Open Water Swimming courses taking place from April 2023 across the country.
The Swim England East Region AGM is taking place on Wednesday 26th April 2023.
There are a number of volunteer roles due to be appointed at the AGM this year – these are –
A role description for each role is available on request for your reference.
If you are interested in applying for any of these roles, please complete this nomination form and email it to nominations@eastswimming.loxfyq1r35-lxd6r712q49g.p.temp-site.link – the closing date for nominations is Sunday 12th March 2023.
Please contact the Regional Chairman – Ian Cotton – with any queries on [email protected].
It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing away of one of our members. David Robinson.
Having joined Mildenhall and District Swimming Club in 1979 when his two children started lessons there, David dedicated a large proportion of the last 41 years to the sport. Despite never being a competitive swimmer himself, he held various voluntary roles at club, county and regional level and as a Referee, he was often seen poolside at many many competitions. He was a member of the Suffolk County ASA for 35 years and a founding member of the East Region board when it was formed in 2005. Roles he held at club and county level include team manager, secretary, chairman and president. He was the East Region President in 2011 and has also been masters manager and records officer for the East Region, secretary and treasurer of the Fenland Swimming League and he was vice-president of Mildenhall and District Swimming Club adding to that his work as a national referee and also trainer of officials. David was also honoured with the Swim England Alfred H Turner Award back in 2020.
David will be sorely missed by all in the swimming community and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. Details of his funeral can be found here
The qualifying times, race schedule and general conditions for the Swim England East Region Long Course Championships have now been added to the competitions page of the website.
The entry system will open approximately one month prior to the entry closing date. Any queries should be directed to [email protected]
