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Modernian wins national volunteering award

Modernian Swimming Club was recognised at the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards ceremony hosted by HRH The Earl of Wessex.

The Bedfordshire club received the Youth Volunteering Award for its Modernian Crash Course. The innovative volunteer programme involves and engages with the club’s younger members.

It was created in 2011 to encourage young people in the club to volunteer and train to become ASA certified swim helpers. To date, more than 60 young volunteers have taken part.

By encouraging young people to volunteer, the Modernian Crash Course has enabled children to learn how to swim. Many of these children might otherwise have been unable to pay for lessons.

Forty of the young volunteers in the programme have also become swimming teachers and are now teaching on the Modernian Crash Course.

The impact of the Modernian crash course

Modernian Swimming Club chair Joanne Stalley said this award was for the fantastic achievements of the young volunteers:

They provide us with their time and dedication to help enrich the lives of children in our community.

It is brilliant to see the youth volunteering scheme recognised on a national level. I hope that this will inspire others to think and consider the value of volunteers.

Sport is not just about competing. Swimming is a great example of the number of the different ways in which sport can have a positive impact on people’s lives.

ASA Head of Clubs Jon Keating also praised the work of Modernian in their volunteer engagement. He said:

It’s fantastic to see an ASA club recognised for all its hard work in giving young volunteers such a great experience and the life opportunities this may lead too

This is also testament to the young volunteers for giving up their time to benefit others. Huge congratulations from the ASA to Modernian Swimming Club.

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