Finalist at the NZ Sport & Recreation Awards
Today is World Drowning Prevention Day, and we believe that everyone should learn to swim to help them be safer around the water. Swimming is a life skill.
Over the past 18 months, we have developed and introduced the Disability Swimming Fund where we financially support people with a disability to access swimming lessons. So far, we are proud to have assisted 300+ people with a disability in participating in swimming lessons.
Overnight, Swimming NZ has been recognized as a finalist for Community Impact at the NZ Sport and Recreation Awards held in Auckland. We are humbled to receive this recognition as we continue to raise awareness that everyone should learn to swim, and offer support in accessing lessons.
Swimming NZ’s Disability & Para Swimming Participation Manager, Cameron Leslie, has been stoked with the success of the initiative so far.
“We are really proud to have supported 300+ people with a disability over the past 18 months to access and support them to learn to swim.”
Leslie expressed gratitude to Sport NZ for their support of the initiative.
“Thanks to Sport NZ for their Disability and Inclusion funding which helped breathe life into this initiative. Without their support we might not have been able to introduce this, even though there had been a strong demand.”
Leslie also acknowledged the mahi of swim schools across the country for being involved in the delivery.
“Thanks to the swim schools who have gotten behind it and are supporting people with a disability to learn to swim.”
Leslie has been grateful to hear back from the families supported by the fund.
“It’s been humbling to receive such positive feedback from the families of those who have been supported so far. It helps reinforce that we are making a positive difference.”
Swimming NZ’s Head of Participation & Events, Dale Johnson, thanked the drivers of the initiative.
“A big thank you to Cam and Hannah who have led the Disability Swimming Fund and other new initiatives. To see the participants thoroughly enjoy their experience in the water is what we are aiming to achieve with these initiatives.”
Leslie welcomes more support to help the fund grow moving forward.
“This fund could be taken to the next level with additional commercial support. If you’d like to join us in supporting people with a disability in learning to swim, please reach out for a chat at cameron@swimming.org.nz.“
Congratulations to the winners and other finalists at the awards last night. We continue to raise awareness that everyone should learn to swim to be safer around the water, and can’t wait to continue supporting opportunities to do so.
Learn more about some of our initiatives to support people with a disability in the water
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