Flourishing in Coaching

Swim England has developed a new framework that marks a new era for coaching in aquatics – one where coaches, athletes and participants are flourishing.

Co-created with the coaching community, clubs and coaching stakeholders, Flourishing in Coaching has been developed by and for the community. It reflects where we are and the voices we’ve heard – responding to the evolving needs of our sports. It’s a shared vision for coaching that values participation and performance equally, and places people – and their experiences – at the heart of everything we do.

Swim England believe coaching is more than a task – it’s a practice, a craft and a powerful catalyst for personal change. It’s how we create great experiences in water and how we shape a culture rooted in care, curiosity and belonging. Our character guides us in building flourishing environments where everyone is seen, supported and treated with respect.

Flourishing redefines coaching as an ethical practice, grounded in compassion, integrity and fairness. It moves us away from a rules-based culture and towards one of autonomy and agency – where coaches are trusted and supported to navigate the complexity of coaching and uphold the highest standards.

Learn more

Chair and Welfare Officer Conference

On Saturday 6th September 2025, the Region will be hosting its first Chair & Welfare Officer conference at the lovely setting of Stapleford Granary in Cambridgeshire.

The day will run between 10 – 4pm with inputs from SE Safeguarding, the National Welfare Officers, Governance, Active Sports Partnerships and more!

Lunch is included and it is free to attend! Spaces are limited to 2 per club, if you or your chair cannot attend you are welcome to send 2 other representatives from your club committee.

The day will focus on how chairs and welfare officers can effectively work together whilst still maintaining confidentiality and cover topics such as how to deal with outcomes following a SE Safeguarding investigation, the behaviour policy, culture change, how Active Sports Partnerships can help your club and a Q&A with a panel of experts.

It will be an excellent opportunity to network, feedback to the region, put faces to names and pick up some ideas to implement at your clubs to allow them to flourish and make your job easier!

Please support this event, there is a minimum number which must be reached in order for it to go ahead.

Register here

UK sports councils agree next steps in response to Safe Sport report

The five UK sports councils are unified by a commitment to the wellbeing, enjoyment and fulfilment of every person involved in sport.

With that in mind, the five bodies are empowering the sector to redesign sport to be safer for everyone in response to the Safe Sport report.

Led by sport and for sport, the Safe Sport project and report emerged from a shared recognition of the challenges faced by the sport sector in keeping people safe.

Co-chaired by Sarah Powell (CEO, British Gymnastics) and Andy Salmon (CEO, Swim England), the independent consultation for the report encompassed 146 organisations and more than 200 voices.

It was survivor-informed, involving individuals with lived experience in sport, with interviews conducted to understand how safeguarding practices in sport can be developed further to create a positive and safe environment for all.

Safe Sport’s mission is to establish a comprehensive and integrated approach to safeguarding in sport throughout the UK.

Read more 

County Development Championships

Huge congratulations from the County Executive to every swimmer, their coaches, volunteers and organisers for the tremendous support during County Development Championships over the weekend of 14th & 15th June.
Over 1,400 were completed with some fantastic racing and great personal improvements.
Full results are available here.

Swim England opens nominations for National Awards 2025

Swim England has announced that nominations are now open for the Swim England National Awards 2025. 

The annual ceremony is a highlight of the Swim England calendar, recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievements, dedication, and passion of the aquatics community across the country. 

This year’s awards will honour contributions of the past year across a variety of categories, spanning clubs, coaches, teachers and volunteers, inclusion, health and more. 

The winners will be revealed at the ceremony on Saturday 29 November at the University of Birmingham.

Nominations are open until Sunday 6 July 2025

Categories include:

  • Sport Club of the Year (one per aquatic discipline) 
  • Volunteer of the Year (26 and over)
  • Young Volunteer of the Year (14-25 years old)
  • Technical Official of the Year 
  • Participation and Community Coach of the Year 
  • Children/Age Group Coach of the Year 
  • Talent Development Coach of the Year 

Nominate someone special

Panorama documentary – The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs – Swim England statement

The Panorama documentary, The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs, was broadcast earlier this evening on BBC1. Swim England was not been able to view the programme in advance but have been given the opportunity to respond to some elements of its content.  Swim England have also issued the following response:  

The experiences that will be shared as part of the Panorama programme are deeply concerning and we are grateful to those who have come forward – recognising fully the courage it takes for those individuals to speak out publicly. Read the full statement

In-depth guide to summer meets 2025 qualification window

The qualification window for the 2025 Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships and GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet has opened.

It runs from Friday 7 March and through to Sunday 11 May.

Selection for the summer competitions are by invitation only based on long course times achieved during the window.

The 2025 season will see a change in the number of swimmers offered the opportunity to compete in the Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships based on data and evaluation from previous summer competitions.

In the 13-14 year age group, the 20 top-ranked swimmers in each group will be invited to compete. 

The 24 top-ranked swimmers in each event in the 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old age groups will also be invited. 

In the 19 years and over age group, the 20 top-ranked swimmers will be invited to attend. 

The only exceptions to these numbers are the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events, where the top 18 swimmers will be invited in all but the 19+ age group, where 16 swimmers will be invited.

The Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships take place at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre from Saturday 19 to Friday 25 July, with the same venue hosting the GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet between Tuesday 29 July and Sunday 3 August.

Read more

Swimming official’s development

Officials are key to the future of our sport and are an essential voluntary element at every swimming competition because they make sure they run smoothly, meet licensing conditions and enable times to go to rankings.

So that we are able to continue to deliver the high standard of competitions needed by our athletes Swim England Cambridgeshire is working to develop range of initiatives to ensure a healthy funnel of new officials and the development of existing officials.

While we finalise our plans please take a look at the development opportunities offered by Swim England. If you are already a Judge 1 and meet additional qualification criteria please consider applying for training as Judge 2 using the online application process.

For more information.

East Region Long Course Championships has now opened volunteering opportunities for swimming officials to support the event.

We are encouraging officials affiliated to all Cambridgeshire clubs to support the region’s recruitment drive and ensure the delivery of the highest standard competition for our athletes.

For more information about this opportunity

Register for the Swim England’s Officials Newsletter