Swim England
Windermere named Site of the Year in 2019 Swim Safe Awards
1 February 2020Windermere was named Site of the Year as volunteers and teachers were recognised in the Swim Safe Awards 2019.
Throughout the year, Swim Safe, which was created by Swim England and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), taught more than 60,000 young people how to swim safely outdoors.
The free sessions took place at an unprecedented total of 44 beach and inland water locations throughout England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Swim England and the RNLI highlighted the vital work of the 39 local delivery partners who shared the Swim Safe message, with Windermere crowned the overall Site of the Year.
The Lake District site enjoyed high attendances for both its school and public programmes, overcoming severe weather conditions by re-organising cancelled sessions.
Ashley Jones, Swim Safe manager, said: “Swim Safe wouldn’t be possible without support from all of our fantastic volunteers, teachers, lifeguards and delivery partners.
“It’s great to be able recognise the incredible efforts they make. ”
A lifesaving skill
Elemental UK was the Best Attended Site of the Year, with almost 4,000 pupils taking part in school sessions in Newquay and Falmouth.
Poole and Scarborough both had more than 1,000 participants in their public sessions, with Poole named Public Delivery Site of the Year.
Jack Smallpiece won the Teacher of the Year award, hailed as an ‘incredible teacher who comes up with new games and activities to get the Swim Safe messages across to participants’.
The volunteer team at Harwich scooped the Volunteer of the Year award, described as ‘well organised, friendly and really supportive to the participants and teaching team’.
Meanwhile, the Isle of Man team received the Long Service Award after five years of delivering Swim Safe sessions in Peel.
Swim Safe Awards 2019
Site Coordinator of the Year
Winner: Libby McLaren (Salford)
Nominees: Ann Marsh (Weymouth), Martin Le Guilcher/Alan Le Pavoux (Jersey), Bridget Every (Lowestoft/Southwold), Jo Zachwatajlo/Richard Sands (Clacton/Walton)
Teacher of the Year
Winner: Jack Smallpiece (Bournemouth)
Nominees: Louise/Pete (Marazion), Emily Hoey (St Ives), Sam Every (Lowestoft/Southwold), Marilyn Trotman (West Bromwich), Ian (Salford), Ian (Windermere), Kim Trimble (Worcester), Toby Duncan (Falmouth)
Lifeguard of the Year
Winner: Harrison Blowers (Lowestoft/Southwold)
Nominees: Ross Cursiter (Poole), Steve Tuen (Doncaster)
Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Harwich volunteers
Nominees: David Slade (Lancing and Littlehampton), Frankie Horn (Isle of Man), Simon and Ruby Loveland (Scarborough/Bridlington), Michaela Sauerteig (Lancing)
Best New Site
Winner (Best New Schools Delivery Site): Clacton/Walton
Winner (Best New Public Delivery Site): Doncaster
Nominees: Littlehampton, Looe, Worcester
Fundraising Site of the Year
Winner: Scarborough/Bridlington
Nominees: Bude, Margate, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight
Site of the Year – Schools and public
Winner (School Delivery Site of the Year): Jersey
Winner (Public Delivery Site of the Year): Poole
Site of the Year
Winner: Windermere
Nominees: Falmouth/Newquay, Margate
Team of the Year
Winner: Scarborough/Bridlington
Nominees: Isle of Man, West Bromwich, Weymouth, Littlehampton, Scottish Lifeguards
Special Recognition for Great Service to Swim Safe
- Craig Maltby (Littlehampton)
- Chloe Harper (Poole and Weymouth)
- Graeme Richardson (Harwich, Clacton and Walton)
- Isle of Man volunteers
- RNLI Lifeguards Scotland
- Andy Mills (Margate)
- Katie Mills (Poole)
- Teaching team at Harwich
- Kerry Brockhurst (Littlehampton)
- Nick Ayers (East coast sites)
- Linette Wheeler (Lancing)
Long Service Award
Isle of Man
Best Attended Site of the Year
Public sessions
- GOLD: Poole (1064 participants)
- SILVER: Scarborough (1062 participants)
- BRONZE: Worcester (932 participants)
School sessions
- GOLD: Elemental UK (3890 participants)
- SILVER: Bournemouth (1032 participants)
- BRONZE: Jersey (981 participants)
Overall
- Newquay and Falmouth (Elemental UK) – 3890 participants