Everybody Sport & Recreation (a private organisation), who have been appointed by Cheshire East to run Knutsford Leisure Centre (a public asset), are forcing Knutsford Vikings Swimming Club to stop teaching children to swim between stages 1-7 (typically under 9's). This move to secure the financial viability of the trust (admitted openly by Everybody Sport & Recreation) will result in:

1) The leisure centre run classes being Knutsford’s only swimming lesson choice for this age group and ability (unless you can afford to pay for private lessons in health clubs).

2) Young swimmers being refused a taste of competitive swimming in a safe, club environment or taking part in the Club championships and vie for the various records set by young people before them.

3) Knutsford losing its future supply of swimming teachers as the teenage swimmers will not be supported in a club environment.

4) Knutsford risking the loss of its only swimming club that has been inspiring children to swim for over forty years.

To quote a parent, “It feels like bully tactics”. The following is taken directly from a letter to Vikings: "Everybody Sport & Recreation will no longer allow Swimming Clubs or other external groups to deliver a commercial ASA Learn to Swim Scheme (or equivalent)) between stages 1-7, in our swimming pools." Knutsford Vikings are not alone, as this demand is also being made across many other clubs around the country.

Vikings wish to work with the Leisure Centre to keep a vibrant community working together to encourage swimming through adolescent years. Please sign our online petition to help save our club and keep our 165 members swimming. Can you ask your family and friends for support and help us reach over 300 signatures?

SAVE OUR SWIMMING CLUB - PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION

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Additional Information: "So what?" you may ask.

1) One style of teaching does not suit all. The ability to choose between leisure centre and club style swimming lessons should not be taken away from parents.

Some parents move their children to the swimming club because they want a club environment and recognise the difference between being taught to stay safely afloat and being taught to swim with proper technique from the start. They have CHOSEN not to take the leisure centre route and are now being forced to return to it. Are these children now to be denied the chance to learn to swim?

2) Leisure centre swimming lessons do not offer the chance for competitive swimming.

Younger Vikings’ swimmers can enter club galas, where they are encouraged to try different strokes and to beat their own personal best times (children under 9 are not allowed to swim competitively outside of a club environment).  This helps keep the children interested in swimming and gives them something to aim for.  Currently excited children (from age 6 - 17) wearing their Vikings team shirts line the pool for these afternoon galas. They get to swim as best they can and also cheer on their friends. This is a great experience to develop; team belonging, determination with the reward that their hard work in lessons pays off as they get faster and can swim more strokes.  This opportunity should not be denied to our under 9's.

3) Vikings has built up a team of teenage swimmers who support the Coach by helping teach the beginners, thus giving these young adults a taste of responsibility and community – this will be lost when Vikings loses its younger swimmers.

Vikings Swimming club coaches are supported by the senior swimmers (experienced and talented teenage swimmers) who willingly give up their free time to help teach the younger swimmers. They inspire the younger ones, and are seen as role models for the children.  They teach from the water as well as poolside, are encouraging and very approachable.  They take them aside for one to one coaching if there is something that they are struggling with. This is a great opportunity for the senior swimmers, as they socialise and bond as a team. They help the younger children in their community, they take responsibility for the safety and development of others, and they have the chance to develop their coaching skills, which are all so useful in life and for job/university applications.

4) The loss of revenue from the younger swimmers will affect the financial viability of Vikings.

If the Leisure Centre take away the younger swimmers, the club will be dependent on a smaller number of swimmers. In addition to this, if the club is then forced to teach earlier on a Saturday (as the Leisure Centre are not allowing Vikings in the pool after 10am) the club will simply close through lack of swimmers as there won’t be enough revenue to keep the club afloat.

SAVE OUR SWIMMING CLUB - PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION