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Swim England is bringing in new guidelines for its affiliated clubs in a bid to show those clubs have the highest standards of safe and effective practice in place. The Stronger Affiliation process is being introduced so new and existing members know clubs are well run and that their personnel have the necessary safeguarding checks in place to ensure members’ safety. For further information please visit – https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/stronger-affiliation-process/

What will it mean for your club?

If your club is already SwimMark accredited, your club just needs to maintain accreditation. Clubs that have not completed SwimMark will have to provide six pieces of evidence to remain affiliated to Swim England on an annual basis. The six pieces of evidence are:

1. Approved Club Constitution
2. Risk Assessments
3. Club Personnel Record (to include qualifications, valid DBS and approved Safeguarding training) – including information on the Coaching & Teaching Register
4. Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Time to Listen certificates for the Club Welfare Officer.
5. Welfare Officer compliance statement
6. Club Chair compliance statement

If a club provides all of the above information, then it will be compliant for Swim England changes in 2021. Further guidance can be found on the Stronger Affiliation Matrix. Failure to meet this new minimum standard of compliance will result in a club being suspended temporarily or permanently from Swim England at the beginning of 2021.

What are the next steps for your club?

All clubs that are currently SwimMark accredited will not have to provide the six pieces of evidence as they have already met this standard as part of their SwimMark accreditation process. However, this is under the proviso that the club’s SwimMark accreditation is maintained.

Clubs which do not have SwimMark accreditation will need to complete the Stronger Affiliation process. The next online live webinar to demonstrate how clubs can complete the Stronger Affiliation process will be held on Monday 18 May, 7pm-8.30pm. To book your space, email clubdevelopment@swimming.org providing your name, club name and your position within the club. You will then be emailed a link to access the live webinar. This is currently the last Stronger Affiliation webinar that the Swim England South West Region has scheduled, however the Region will consider scheduling further webinars based on demand.

When is the deadline for completion?

All non-SwimMark clubs will be able to submit evidence for Stronger Affiliation to an online portal from 1 June 2020. All evidence will need to be uploaded by 16 November 2020 so that it can be checked and approved by the Swim England South West Region ahead of the national deadline of 1 December 2020.

Swim England is to temporarily stop issuing licences for swimming competitions across the country. The decision covers competitions at levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 and includes events which have already been scheduled for later this year.

Tom Baster, the chairperson of Swim England’s Swimming Leadership Group, said the decision had been taken to ensure swimmers have a safe return to competitive action when lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted. He said: “The Swim England Swimming Leadership Group is currently working alongside the other aquatic disciplines on a detailed plan to ensure a safe and successful return to the water. This will be implemented when Government guidance makes it possible for our sport to recommence. As part of that planning, we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend the granting of licences for swimming competitions at levels 1,2, 3 and 4. Gala organisers are requested not to submit any further applications to their regional licensing officers until further notice, although they can continue to consult with regional licensing officers about their plans throughout this period. Whilst our plans remain necessarily fluid at this stage, it is clear that in the interests of athlete development and safety and an effective and coordinated competition calendar, licensed competition cannot recommence on the day that pools reopen.”

A timeline for the appropriate reintroduction of competition will be published once further information on the easing of lockdown and social distancing measures becomes available. All licensed events currently scheduled on the Swim England website are therefore to be regarded as provisional in status, pending the release of further information. In planning for a return to competition, other events such as leagues and Masters will also be considered and further information will be released in due course.

Tom Baster concluded: “Everyone is trying to plan for an as yet unknown return to activity date and this clearly causes challenges for all involved in our great sport. We appreciate your support in navigating this issue as successfully as possible to deliver an outcome in the best interests of the participants and all other stakeholders.”

Issued 23 April 2020

Dear Dorset Clubs and Club members

As we enter a fourth weekend of national lockdown, can we please remind you that the Swim England website has a range of regularly updated information to support clubs and members during these unprecedented times. Dorset County ASA is also still working on behalf of our clubs and we have therefore compiled the following information to answer some of the questions and concerns of our swimming community.

County Management

Dorset County ASA is managed for day-to-day matters by its Executive Officers, who are Chairman Ray Honeybun, Treasurer Gerry Griffin and Secretary Di Gibbs. All other decisions normally taken by Dorset County Executive, which has now been cancelled for the foreseeable future, have become the responsibility of an Emergency Committee invoked to deal with time-sensitive and/or specific issues as appropriate.

The Emergency Committee comprises the DCASA Principal Officers (President Les Jessop and the three previously mentioned Executive Officers), together with Bob Holman and Andy Smart (both Emergency sub-committee) and Tony Mullins (Rules).

The Dorset County ASA Emergency Committee met virtually on 7 April to consider time-sensitive issues resulting from cancellation of the Dorset County Executive on 2 April 2020, and future meetings of the Emergency Committee will be held ad hoc as often as needed. Please note:

• Annual General Meeting The 2020 AGM due to be held on Thursday 4 June has been rescheduled provisionally to Thursday 1 October.

• President Until such time as an AGM and the election of post holders can take place, the current President Les Jessop will continue in the role.

• Dorset County ASA Constitution Constitutional changes compliant to Swim England August 2018 and issues relevant to the continued operation of county business, affiliation of organisations, the electoral process and the election of a President/President Elect were ratified.

Regional Forums

The SWR recently held a trial meeting for Club Chairmen and plans to hold further online meetings for both Chairmen and Coaches, details of which will be forwarded to clubs when known. Alternatively, clubs and coaches can contact  swimsouthwest@swimming.org direct.

Stronger Affiliation

The Stronger Affiliation process is expected to progress as planned and, as far as we are aware, with no concession being made for the freeze in club activity. We have written to Swim England’s CEO for clarification (and regarding SwimMark accreditation) but, until any specific directive or guidance is issued, clubs are recommended to continue to work towards ensuring the necessary documentation is in place to support Stronger Affiliation requirements.

The deadline for submissions for clubs that are not SwimMark accredited is 1 December 2020, and the SWR has set a deadline of 16 November to be able to check those submissions before the final date. The penalty for non-submission is suspension. Clubs can view the full guidelines for Stronger Affiliation at www.swimming.org/swimengland/stronger-affiliation-process.

Main issues to address for Stronger Affiliation are club constitutions, Safeguarding and Time to Listen. Please remember that the Teachers & Coaches Register MUST be completed and those listed be DBS checked.

Club Constitutions

Clubs constitutions MUST now be compliant to the Swim England August 2018 Model Constitution, which can be viewed at www.swimming.org/swimengland/becoming-a-members-club. Most, but not all, Dorset Clubs now fulfil that requirement, but for advice or to submit an updated constitution please contact Di Gibbs dorsetasa@gmail.com.

SwimMark accreditation

No concession to the lockdown has yet been made for the SwimMark accreditation process, therefore clubs requiring an annual health check should progress those submissions as normal. Penalty for missing the annual health check deadline is loss of accreditation (ie, having to start again for reaccreditation).

Safeguarding 

The full face-to-face Safeguarding Course has been replaced by UK Coaching with a virtual classroom style workshop, and the SWR has already organised several which have proved popular. The course is FOC and the booking form can be accessed at  www.swimwest.org.uk/news/article/regional-safeguarding-courses.  Note that those who book but don’t attend will be fined £20! Additional dates are due to be added to the programme. Those who have already done a full Safeguarding Course but need to renew can do so online at www.ukcoaching.org/courses/learn-at-home/sgp

Time to Listen

The SWR has scheduled a Time to Listen course for 13 June 2020 but, as this course usually cannot be taken online, it is uncertain whether it can go ahead. However, provided your club welfare officer has attended an approved Safeguarding course, allowance will be made for 12 months to attend a TTL course. Any club welfare officer who requires a TTL course should contact Jackie Hilleard jackiehilleard@gmail.com.

England Programmes County Pathway 

Following Swim England guidance, the first two County Pathway camps (19 April and 28 June) have been cancelled and it is hoped that we can go ahead with the camp planned for 20 September 2020. Consideration will be given to rescheduling the additional two camps later in the year or even into 2021, rather than cancellation so that this year’s 11-year age group does not miss out on the programme altogether.

County Competitions 

All county events have been put on hold up to 1 September 2020. Swim England guidelines will determine when our competition programme can recommence, but consideration will be given to rescheduling as many cancelled county events as possible. Those events affected are the Dorset Novice Swimming League R3, Dorset Graded Meet, Dorset Clubs Relay Gala, and Dorset Synchronised Swimming Championships. The 2020 Dorset Development Competition is scheduled for 3-4 October, but this event may have to be moved later in the calendar.

Licensing of events

Depending on when clubs and counties can reconvene, licensing guidelines may be reviewed by the national body to prevent congestion in the competition calendar. Precise details are not known at present but, if issued by our RLO, the DCASA Emergency Committee will review agreed dates and in-county licensed events in line with those guidelines and to ensure that all clubs can offer their swimmers the opportunity to achieve Consideration Times for the 2021 County Championships in a way that best suits that club and its finances.

Support 

It has been inspiring to see how clubs, coaches and swimmers are keeping in touch to motivate each other and keep fit. Whether it has been group baking or burpees, these imaginative ideas are playing an important role in supporting our extended swimming family. We are still working on behalf of our clubs, here to support you whenever we can, and can be contacted either through the Dorset County ASA website or at dorsetasa@gmail.com. We cannot guarantee to have a solution to every problem but will do our absolute best to assist.

Finally, please follow the guidelines – stay home and stay safe. We look forward to seeing you all again as soon as possible.

With best wishes

Dorset County ASA

20 April 2020

Swim England has created a new COVID-19 Club Support Toolkit to help its affiliated clubs get through the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance includes a series of case studies on how other clubs have coped, advice on funding opportunities plus information for any employees or self-employed workers. There is also a handy budget planner to allow clubs to work out their financial position during the coming months.

Jon Keating, Swim England Club Development Director, said the toolkit had been created following a request from clubs for more guidance and support. He said, “We’re aware that this is a difficult period for our clubs as pools are shut indefinitely and members have nowhere to train, apart from at home. It’s important that our clubs know we are still here to support them and we’ve been listening to their concerns. There are a number of resources available and we’ve compiled them all together in this toolkit and we hope clubs find the information useful in these challenging times. We want to see all our affiliated clubs able to return to the water when that time arises and continue to provide the excellent service they offer to members.” A series of frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak compiled by Swim England is also available.

Issued 9 April 2020