During Volunteers’ Week, we said a huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers.
From coaches and team managers to committee members, officials, poolside helpers, and everyone who works tirelessly behind the scenes, your dedication makes everything we do possible. Your commitment, enthusiasm, and support create opportunities for swimmers of all ages and abilities to enjoy, develop, and succeed in our sport.
Volunteers are at the heart of our sport. We are truly grateful for the countless hours you give to support our athletes, members, and families. Your efforts make a lasting difference, and we simply couldn’t do it without you.
Throughout the week, we shone a spotlight on some of our fantastic volunteers, giving them the opportunity to share their volunteering journeys, experiences, and what inspired them to give their time. We hoped their stories celebrated the impact volunteers had within our club and encouraged others to get involved and discover the rewards of volunteering.
If you feel inspired to get involved and make a difference, please contact your club. They will be extremely grateful for your support, and there are many rewarding opportunities to help, whatever time or experience you can offer
Our first volunteer was Mena Reddington the Hertfordshire County Welfare Officer.
Harpenden Swimming Club is a small, friendly Hertfordshire-based club that my daughter joined a couple of years ago. At the time, we didn’t know anyone at the club and had very little understanding of competitive swimming. Swimming was simply something she loved to do. Through the club, that enjoyment quickly developed into a real passion for the sport and a love of competition.
When the Welfare Officer role became available, I chose to volunteer for two main reasons. Firstly, I wanted to get to know the other parents and swimmers within the club community. Secondly, safeguarding is something I feel very strongly about, particularly in today’s world where social media plays such a significant role in young people’s lives.
Being a Welfare Officer has been both challenging and rewarding. Dealing with safeguarding concerns is never easy, but it does make you think differently about situations and responsibilities. The role has also helped me approach situations with my own child in a more informed way and has given me valuable knowledge that I can use to help educate her about safeguarding — recognising warning signs, understanding boundaries, and knowing how to respond if something makes her uncomfortable.
I find the role incredibly rewarding because it allows me to give something back to the club and community that has given so much to my daughter. I hope that by being approachable to both parents and swimmers, I have earned their trust and confidence to come to me when they need support. At the same time, I have never felt alone in the role, as both our Regional Welfare Officer and the Swim England safeguarding team have consistently provided guidance and support whenever needed.
Our next volunteer was Su Felce -Team Manager Presenter
Volunteering has a way of opening doors that you never expected. Many years ago, when my own child was involved in swimming, I signed up to help as a Team Manager. At the time, I simply wanted to support the club and contribute in a practical way. I had no idea that the role would become such a rewarding part of my life within the sport.
Over the years, I gained experience supporting swimmers at local galas, league matches, county competitions, and away events. As many Team Managers will know, the role is far more than organising paperwork and making sure swimmers are in the right place at the right time. Team Managers provide reassurance to swimmers, support coaches, communicate with parents, and help ensure that events run smoothly. They are often the friendly face that helps young athletes feel confident and prepared when representing their club.
As my experience grew, I was approached and encouraged to become a Team Manager Presenter. It was a wonderful opportunity to give something back by helping to train and support new volunteers stepping into the role. Sharing real-life experiences, practical advice, and lessons learned over many years has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of my volunteering journey.
Before the pandemic, delivering Team Manager workshops meant many hours spent travelling around the region, visiting clubs and venues to provide face-to-face training. While those sessions were always enjoyable, they could involve long journeys and significant time commitments. The move to online delivery during and after COVID transformed the way we train volunteers. Today, workshops can be delivered via Zoom, making training far more accessible and allowing volunteers from across the region to take part without the need to travel.
What has not changed, however, is the sense of community. One of the things I enjoy most about being a presenter is the opportunity to meet and chat with other Team Manager volunteers. Every workshop brings together people with different experiences, questions, and perspectives, all united by a desire to support young swimmers. The conversations, shared experiences, and enthusiasm that participants bring make every session unique and rewarding.
There is something particularly satisfying about seeing new volunteers gain confidence and leave a workshop feeling ready to take on the Team Manager role. Knowing that the training will help support swimmers at future competitions and events makes the experience incredibly worthwhile. By helping to develop the next generation of Team Managers, presenters play a small but important part in ensuring that swimming continues to thrive.
The following day, we heard from Chelsea Jones, – swimming officials
I started my JL1 training in October 2023. My son was regularly competing for Norwich Swan, my daughter was just starting to compete, and the club was looking for more officials to join so I thought I would give it a try, and now, nearly 3 years later, I’m now doing my JL2 training.
Becoming an official has helped me loads with confidence, when my son first started competing I would have definitely said no to officiating due to lacking in confidence but as I got more involved with the club I decided to give it a go and I realised it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I was capable of doing it so for anyone thinking about it I would say just go for it, it honestly sounds more nerve racking than it actually is. People assume you have to give up all your time and do every session, but as someone with a younger daughter about to start learn to swim, it’s not always possible for me to do all weekend. Any time you can give to your club and the swimmers would be greatly appreciated.
I enjoy being part of it all, meeting new people from different clubs, seeing the younger swimmers who are coming through nervous about racing, the older swimmers who are more confident and being great role models and being poolside rather than up in the spectator area watching, and the snacks are always a bonus.
And we finished with Nadia Kopec – Club Secretary
I have been volunteering for the past three years on the committee at Bedford Swim Squad. I first joined as Workforce Secretary and I am now part of the Executive Committee as Secretary.
I originally decided to volunteer because I wanted to support the club, but I knew I wouldn’t always be available at galas to officiate or team manage, especially as I also had a younger child to look after. As my daughter began swimming as well, I felt able to take on a bigger role and stepped into the position of Secretary.
What I enjoy most about volunteering is being able to support the club, coaches and swimmers from behind the scenes. It is a real team effort, and I like knowing that I am helping swimmers achieve what they work so hard for. It can be a roller coaster at times and a challenge, but it is very rewarding to be part of that support system.
The skills I have gained through volunteering also link well with my working life. As a business owner, I already have skills that help me in my role as Secretary, but working within a committee made up mainly of self-employed executive members has also helped me develop my business and managerial skills further, which I can apply in my own businesses.
What keeps me coming back is knowing that I am contributing to something meaningful. When I first took on the Workforce role, I felt I was helping to ease the load on others. Now, as Secretary, especially during a period of change within the club, it feels rewarding to be part of the team working to rebuild and strengthen the club and help it become even better than before.
For anyone thinking about volunteering, I would say it is fun and a great way to be part of a team while contributing to the day-to-day running of the club. Committee roles can often fit around other commitments and allow people to contribute in a less visible but very important way. Officiating and team managing roles require more involvement on gala days, but very little between events, so there really is something to suit everyone. Many parents and guardians already have skills that can support the club, and there are usually opportunities to contribute within your comfort zone. Every role, no matter how small, makes a real difference to the running and success of the club.
I have been volunteering for the past three years on the committee at Bedford Swim Squad. I first joined as Workforce Secretary and I am now part of the Executive Committee as Secretary.
I originally decided to volunteer because I wanted to support the club, but I knew I wouldn’t always be available at galas to officiate or team manage, especially as I also had a younger child to look after. As my daughter began swimming as well, I felt able to take on a bigger role and stepped into the position of Secretary.
What I enjoy most about volunteering is being able to support the club, coaches and swimmers from behind the scenes. It is a real team effort, and I like knowing that I am helping swimmers achieve what they work so hard for. It can be a roller coaster at times and a challenge, but it is very rewarding to be part of that support system.
The skills I have gained through volunteering also link well with my working life. As a business owner, I already have skills that help me in my role as Secretary, but working within a committee made up mainly of self-employed executive members has also helped me develop my business and managerial skills further, which I can apply in my own businesses.
What keeps me coming back is knowing that I am contributing to something meaningful. When I first took on the Workforce role, I felt I was helping to ease the load on others. Now, as Secretary, especially during a period of change within the club, it feels rewarding to be part of the team working to rebuild and strengthen the club and help it become even better than before.
For anyone thinking about volunteering, I would say it is fun and a great way to be part of a team while contributing to the day-to-day running of the club. Committee roles can often fit around other commitments and allow people to contribute in a less visible but very important way. Officiating and team managing roles require more involvement on gala days, but very little between events, so there really is something to suit everyone. Many parents and guardians already have skills that can support the club, and there are usually opportunities to contribute within your comfort zone. Every role, no matter how small, makes a real difference to the running and success of the club.