Annual Report 2014/2015 2 Learn to Swim the Asa Annual Report 2014/2015 3
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THE ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 2 LEARN TO SWIM THE ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 3 CONTENTS WELCOME Adam Paker Chris Bostock Lisa Wainwright Chief Executive Chair of the Sport Interim Chair of the Governing Board Group Board Learn to Swim 4 The ASA has a rich history of leading aquatics in this country and everyone associated with it To start, we wanted to pay tribute to our The Group Board continues to work closely Health and Wellbeing 10 – volunteers, club members, staff, partners and partnerships with Kellogg’s and British Gas, with ASA colleagues and partners to provide the supporters – has an incredibly important part both of which came to an end this year. Their strategic direction of the Association, support Workforce Development 18 to play in its success. impact on aquatics has been huge and we are the development of the ASA as an industry These pages reflect the numerous very grateful for their involvement. leader, and ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet the needs of the sport. Club Development 24 accomplishments of the past year, from the Since the last Annual Report, we have welcomed competitive successes of our talented athletes Adam Paker as our new Chief Executive and we Ensuring aquatics remains high on the political Leadership 30 and coaches, to the development of new have been working to ensure the two Board agenda is key to the Group Board, and the resources to ensure the quality of swimming governance structure is embedded within the launch of the School Swimming Charter and Talent Development 38 lessons, and innovative programmes ASA’s constitution and supporting all aspects the 2015 Manifesto for Aquatics provided encouraging more people to take to the water of the Association. opportunities to continue engaging with Commonwealth Games 44 regardless of their age or background. Ministers to help influence the sport and The Sport Governing Board (SGB) has put a health agendas. Key Performance Indicators 48 But as we reflect on the past year, we must also strong structure in place for the leadership of look to the future. Growing adult participation all the aquatic disciplines, ensuring the focus is While there have recently been some Financial Overview 52 continues to be a challenge, but as we develop on the whole pathway from skill development, challenges, the ASA is in a strong position to our insight-led strategy and work closely with talent through to elite. More detailed reviews drive participation and we are pleased that Sponsors and Supporters 54 our partners, I am confident we will see more have taken place for synchronised swimming Sport England share this confidence through people swimming regularly and taking part and water polo, with new strategic and their recent two-year funding commitment. Thank You 55 in aquatics. operational plans being drafted. This is an exciting time for the ASA and, on I am incredibly proud to be working in Considerable work has been undertaken on behalf of both Boards, we would like to thank all an organisation that includes so many the Learn to Swim Pathway, with a focus on the our members, volunteers, staff and partners for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals. I would early stages. Towards the end of this period, all the ongoing hard work and commitment in like to thank you all for your support and for work commenced on standards for ‘baby helping us to achieve our aims. helping to ensure that, each year, millions of swimming’ which will be finalised during 2015. people are able to enjoy the many benefits Clubs remain at the heart of the ASA and the of swimming and aquatics. SGB has taken particular interest in ensuring the club structure delivers for members at each stage of the swimmer’s journey. We also ensured representation on the Pathway Implementation Group, providing input to the revised swimming Cover photograph: Georgie Kerr competition structure and changes in the Long Term Athlete Development model. THE ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 5 The ASA Learn to Swim Pathway Review and Support Resources The ASA Learn to Swim Pathway remains To further improve the quality of Learn to the most successful programme of its Swim provision, the aquatic officers are kind in British sport. The ASA Aquatic now able to offer Learn to Swim reviews, Officers continue to support operators to Learn to Swim observations, Learn to implement all four frameworks to ensure Swim Pathway implementation training, a seamless pathway from birth to adult customer service training and swimming swimming provision. co-ordinator induction training. The Learn to Swim Framework (stages The support package has been developed 1-7) is still the most popular section of the centrally by the aquatic officers, with the Pathway, and we encourage operators to Partnership Provider Programme (PPP) use it in full to improve retention within customers in mind, to ensure consistent their programmes and raise the quality support to operators to help develop of delivery by using the Learn to Swim Learn to Swim provision. Review and Learn to Swim Accreditation programme tools available from their Learn to Swim Accreditation/ aquatic officers. Quest Partnership Once again, our implementation figures This year, we have formalised our have seen an increase in the number of partnership with Sport England’s Quest sites using our programmes. Accreditation and now deliver all our • Foundation Framework Learn to Swim Accreditations through (Pre-school) – 530 Right Directions, who have been delivering • Learn to Swim Framework Quest. ASA Learn to Swim Accreditation (Stages 1-7) – 952 (formerly swim21 Learn to Swim) is now available in two formats: • Aquatic Skills Framework (Stages 8-10) – 506 • ASA Learn to Swim Accreditation – stand alone • Adult Swimming Framework (Adult) – 161 • ASA Learn to Swim Accreditation as part of Quest Facility Accreditation. ASA Awards 690,136 LEARN Stage Awards (1-10) TO SWIM 1,861,180 6,378 Every child and adult able to swim ASA Learn to Swim Awards Learn to Swim providers awarded in 2014-2015 using the ASA reward and recognition scheme 6 LEARN TO SWIM THE ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 7 National Curriculum Swimming The new Physical Education (PE) Our ongoing commitment to school The National Curriculum Training The six point manifesto is still a priority for Curriculum came into force in September swimming has seen the development Programme (NCTP) gives school staff the the ASA and, following the announcement 2014 stating that all schools must provide of the new School Swimming Charter, knowledge and skills to be able to deliver that the PE and school sport funding will swimming instruction in either Key Stage 1 launched in November 2014. This enables a quality school swimming lesson and, be made available annually until 2020, and/or Key Stage 2. direct relationships with primary schools between April 2014 and March 2015, over there has never been a better opportunity and encourages and supports them to 2,000 teachers were trained. for schools to prioritise the funding to The ASA’s 2014 School Swimming Census take school swimming seriously in order to ensure that all children learn to swim. provided evidence that steps are being The NCTP has been redeveloped to meet the new curriculum standards. made in the right direction as there provide school staff with new and This can be done by: was a six per cent increase in In the first five months since the launch, exciting delivery options that will provide • Signing up to the School the number of 7-11-year- over 300 schools have signed up and are opportunities for more school staff to Swimming Charter olds able to swim working in partnership with the ASA. access training easily. • Upskilling school staff to deliver 25 metres quality lessons unaided. • Providing additional swimming lessons • Increasing water time. 2014 School Swimming Census Results An increase of 6% in the number of 7-11-year-olds able to swim 25 metres unaided This is just the tip of the iceberg with 45% of children between the ages of 7-11 still unable to swim 25 metres unaided 83% of secondary schools 40% do not know the level of parents of swimming attained do not know their by incoming students child’s swimming progress or ability 8 LEARN TO SWIM THE ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 9 2014/2015 Major Projects Pools 4 Schools School Swimathon Swimathon During 2014/15, In 2015, Grants in 2014 Pools 4 Schools has taught helped over 1,500 people to access 26,336 aquatic activities children at three 225 across 22 different different pools schools projects 338 Make a Splash Since 2008 classes 170,000 Swim Safe school lessons have been delivered and 7,969 Swim Safe is an annual programme run by the ASA and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution participants (RNLI) that gives children an opportunity to during 13,000 8,610 2014/15 learn about the differences between pool swimming and swimming in open water, community users have pupils at five through free improver swimming sessions had lessons in the pools different took part project and beach safety advice. over 31 locations venues In 2014 there were 3,600 children participating across the four sites: 1,150 at Boscombe Beach Bournemouth 1,327at Bude Sea Pool 314 809 at Fell Foot Park and at Sandhaven Beach Low Wray Campsite South Shields Lake Windermere 10 LEARN TO SWIM 11 Swimming is one of the few sports that is accessible to all, irrespective of age or ability. It also offers proven health benefits, contributing to physical and psychological wellbeing. This provides the ASA with an opportunity to appeal to the diverse population and reach individuals community in ways that other sports do not.