Swim England Youth Advisory Panel finalist in Community Sport and Recreation Awards

A young team of ‘fantastic ambassadors’ have been recognised for their hard work by being nominated for a national prize.

The Swim England National  Youth Advisory Panel are finalists in the Sport and Recreation Alliance-run 2020 Community Sport and Recreation Awards.

They are one of three finalists in contention for the Volunteering Award alongside British Blind Sport and Active Life: She’s Ready.

The winners will be announced during an awards lunch at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Friday 6 March.

Ben Gregory, chairperson of the Youth Advisory Panel. said: “I am delighted that the panel has been shortlisted for this award.

“Our panel members are fantastic ambassadors for volunteering across all disciplines and it is fantastic to see their hard work being recognised.

“I would like to thank Swim England for its continued support of the panel and the work that we do.”

The Volunteering Award celebrates the clubs and programmes that make volunteering accessible to people from all backgrounds.

It honours organisations that ensure volunteers feel valued as well as those that develop the skills and abilities of their volunteers.

Raising the panel’s profile

With two of its members already established ambassadors in the para-swimming and para-sport community, the Youth Advisory Panel has started to build a campaign around aquatic disciplines being an accessible activity for all.

The campaign will focus on the physical and mental benefits of the sports and will also provide clubs and regions with support and guidance on how to make their offer accessible for all.

Claire Coleman, Swim England Head of Volunteering and Pathways, said: “Raising the profile of the panel both internally and within the wider aquatic community is a primary objective of ours and we are very much at the start of our journey.

“Receiving recognition and exposure through this award will help us inspire and engage more young swimmers and volunteers, ultimately allowing our sport to continue to grow and develop.”

The National Youth Advisory Panel gives young members of the aquatic community the chance to be involved and gain experience in the governance of all aquatic sports.

Members gain experience in being an effective team member, engaging in discussion, communicating with internal staff and the wider aquatic community and specific aquatic club and event volunteering.

As part of Swim England’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the panel launched its Youth Champion Award.

The award celebrates the outstanding contribution of individuals in our community who have championed the voice of young people and two deserving winners have already been announced this year.

For more information on the Youth Advisory Panel and how to get involved, please email volunteering@swimming.org