Happy New Year from Swim England East Region!

As we dive into this exciting new year, we extend our warmest greetings to all our clubs, coaches, volunteers and athletes. Your dedication and achievements over the past year have been truly inspiring, and we are incredibly grateful for the passion you bring to aquatic sports.

As we look ahead, we are thrilled about the opportunities and developments that await us in the world of swimming. Let's embrace the challenges of the upcoming year with optimism and enthusiasm. We invite you to engage with us and participate in our upcoming events, as we continue to foster growth and excellence in our sport.



Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Swim England's New Strategy

Swim England has published a bold, unwavering commitment to change with the launch of a new strategy which has been shaped with the help of the aquatics community.

One Swim England sets out the national governing body’s vision – ‘Great experiences in water. For all. For life’ – and a mission to ‘lead and serve an aquatics community to enable safe, enjoyable and successful experiences’.

At its heart are four values – we include, we are ambitious, we collaborate and we do what’s right – and 18 goals which sets out the organisation’s roadmap for the future.



It has been created following insight received from the Vision and Values Roadshows – a nationwide tour attended by hundreds of participants, volunteers, club committee members, coaches, technical officials, team managers, parents, event organisers, county and regional representatives, operators plus Swim England staff.

Health and Wellbeing

Swim England’s Health and Wellbeing benefits of swimming report highlights the unique benefits of water that make it the ideal place for people of all ages and level of ability to exercise and is particularly beneficial for those with long term health conditions.



The insight on swimming participation and learning from our Dementia Friendly Swimming project, Swim England have developed the ‘Water Wellbeing’ model which includes all of the essential components, to be able to offer the best possible experience for people who are inactive and/or have long term health conditions, to become physically active in water.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2025 Prohibited List

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has released the 2025 Prohibited List which details the substances and methods that are banned within sport. Broken down into several categories, the List identifies which substances and methods are prohibited at all times, in-competition only, and within specific sports.

Please be aware of changes to rules around inhaled formoterol which can be used to treat asthma.

Athletes should also recheck their medication from the 1 January on Global DRO to make sure they are not taking anything prohibited

Team Manager 1&2 Workshops

Bookings for Team Manager 1 & 2 workshops are now live on the SE East Region website

There are three TM2 workshops for the year planned for February, June and September which takes into consideration training camps that may take place in the school holidays. Please ensure you plan ahead.

Governance

Get support in your committee role by attending one of Swim England's role-specific workshops. 

Chair Information session

Friday 10th Jan 12:00 or Tuesday 21st January 18.30

Secretary and Membership Officer information session

Wednesday 8th January 2025 - 18:30 - 20:30

Welfare Officer session

Monday 13th January - 18.00

The sessions for the Chairman and Welfare officer are mandatory for the role. If you have already attended a session this year, there's no need to attend again however, it is recommend attending a session every 12-18 months.

East Region Welfare

SE Safeguarding Low Level concerns tracker

SE Safeguarding have made amendments to the club tracker to record low level welfare incidents in relation to adults. This has been emailed to all club welfare officers. If you haven’t received it please email eastwelfare@swimming.org

Time to Listen Courses

The Time to Listen Course is a mandatory requirement for all club welfare officers, the course is 3 hours long. Booking is now live for courses on Saturday 25^th January at 9am and Tuesday 25^th February at 7pm

Welfare Contacts

Regional Welfare Officer – Fran fran.vesztrocy@swimming.org or eastwelfare@swimming.org

SE DBS – DBS@swimming.org

SE Safeguarding – safeguarding@swimming.org

Raising a concern with SE Safeguarding - https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/how-raise-concern-complaint/

Wavepower - https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/wavepower-child-safeguarding-for-clubs/

SE Inclusion Hub - https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/inclusion/

Artistic Swimming Judge 2 course

Swim England will be running an online Artistic Swimming Judge 2 course on 30 Jan and 4 Feb 2025 both evenings from 6-9pm. Candidates should have been active as a Judge 1 for in excess of a year. (i.e. have been qualified for over a year and judged at least twice in the last 12 months).

Candidates should complete the form on the link below to express interest.

Qualifications 

East Region-Based Qualifications:

• 12526 Swim England Assistant Swimming Coach 06/01/2025 Inspire: Luton
• 12451 Swim England Swimming Coach 11/01/2025 John Warner Sports Centre
• 12426 Swim England Swimming Coach 15/01/2025 Alive St James
• 13047 Swim England Assistant Artistic Swimming Coach 04/02/2025 - Hatfield Swim Centre
• 13370 Swim England Assistant Swimming Coach 12/02/2025 - George Campbell Leisure Centre
• 12813 Swim England Assistant Swimming Coach 25/02/2025 - Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre
• 12698 Swim England Assistant Swimming Coach 14/03/2025 - Runnymede Leisure Centre

James Salmon

Regional Manager

james.salmon@swimming.org

Jo Stalley

Regional Operations Officer

jo.stalley@swimming.org

Fran Vesztrocy

Regional Welfare Officer

fran.vesztrocy@swimming.org

Emma Winter

Regional Administrator

emma.winter@swimming.org

General Enquiries

east@swimming.org

+44 (0) 7583 694233

Regional Welfare & Safeguarding

eastwelfare@swimming.org

01509 640378