Swimming in Greenwich Position Statement - 29/01/08
In December 2007, the old Eltham Pool was closed and the new pool was opened. As the new pool is a different type of facility to the old and better equipped to serve the wider community, the old pool programme could not be implemented into the new facility. Therefore, changes across the whole borough programme were needed. All swimming/aquatic clubs have been awarded pool time in the borough at adjusted times under an interim pool programme, which will runs until the end of March this year.
Greenwich Council undertook an extensive independent audit into the provision of swimming in the borough during 2007 in response to this functional changing of their pool stock and to incorporate 'A strategy to get London Swimming 2008-2012+' endorsed by the Greater London Authority and Sport England London. This audit looked into club swimming, school swimming and swimming delivered by the borough leisure provider GLL.
Key findings from the audit were:
- There is no clear pathway from learn to swim to performance
- Relatively small numbers of people are accessing the initial stages of competitive swimming
- The comparative lack of accessibility of competitive opportunities (geographically within the Borough and financially)
- There are no opportunities to participate in diving, synchro and water-polo beyond fundamental level
- Only 3 clubs have achieved Clubmark standard (Swim21)
- There appears to be widespread duplication of resources
- There is a concern over financial sustainability of the clubs
Through the audit and opening of the new pool it was clear that Greenwich needed to address the delivery of swimming in the borough in order to maximise competitive opportunities, access to the disciplines, quality assurance and community use.
To work towards this Greenwich has recruited Olympic Coach Doug Campbell on a part-time basis for the next three months. Doug will work with the local clubs, schools and the leisure provider (GLL) to establish the good practise that exists in the borough and develop a high quality clear sustainable pathway for swimming and the other aquatic disciplines in Greenwich.
