Swimming development team contact information
tel: 0113 3950001
or use the email link on this page.
Swimming Development:
Andrew Learmonth, Leeds City Council’s Swimming Development Officer, is responsible for working with the Amateur Swimming Association, schools, clubs, community groups, leisure centres, other authority swimming development officers and community sports officers. Leeds currently has two community swimming coaches, Alan Miller and James Richards.
Leeds Swimming Development is an approved ASA education centre, one of the largest in the country, offering a variety of swimming courses for external and internal customers (leisure centre staff and school teachers).
Support is also given to the 222 primary schools who swim each week in our leisure centres (approx. 10,000 swims) and work continues on raising the National Curriculum pass rates in schools at key stage 2. Primary and secondary school swimming galas offer children the chance to compete, possibly for the first time if they are not a member of a swimming club.
Local Swimming Clubs are supported through visits, coach education courses and promotion through our club directory. Support is also provided to local clubs with their Swim21 accreditation. Community clubs and groups frequently seek advice on venues, qualifications and funding.
Our leisure centres run the Swim Leeds, "learn to swim programme" with over 12,000 swims per week. The programme was tailored to Leeds’ needs and continues to be developed. Leeds has a place on the recently formed West Yorkshire Partnership Liaison Group for swimming, which works together in sharing best practice.
Examples of work done within swimming to meet the Council’s objectives:
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Young People
Most of the swimming development team’s work is with young people, whether it is with the "Learn to Swim" programme, the swimming and diving training schemes or with schools. After school clubs have been set up as either competitive clubs or "learn to swim". This work will continue as we start to run "top up" lessons for children who haven’t reached the National Curriculum standard at key stage 2.
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BME Groups
A swimming information leaflet has been produced and translated into various community languages. This has been distributed to health centres, community centres and schools in the inner city area.
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Women
Women only swimming sessions form part of most leisure centre swimming pool programmes. Many of which have now been staffed by female lifeguards, making them accessible to all women from the community.
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Disabled
A full audit of swimming facilities was undertaken, including access, adapted equipment and any specific swimming sessions. This information has been published in a booklet and copies distributed to every GP’s surgery in Leeds, to hospital physiotherapists and special schools (for a copy please use the link on this page entitled sport and active recreation programme for disabled people). Work has recently taken place with the Daniel Yorath clinic for brain injuries at Garforth and they are now using Rothwell leisure centre on a weekly basis.
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Economically Disadvantaged
With funding from Yorkshire Water Swimcare we have been able to offer free swimming lessons to 120 primary school children who haven’t yet reached the National Curriculum standard for key stage 2. These children were selected by the schools and come from socially and economically disadvantaged families. Each child received a 'crash' course of lessons during school holidays.
Leeds Lifesaving:
Louise Wells, Leeds City Council’s lifesaving coordinator is responsible for Leeds Lifesaving. She organises an extensive education programme for the public, clubs and schools. Many candidates achieving the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification become employed by Leeds City Council as lifeguards.
Through the Activate credit system Louise organises water safety courses for primary schools and recently started the Heartstart project, with Joanne Chadwick, to take lifesaving and first aid into all Leeds’ schools. RLSS bronze medallion courses are offered to secondary schools where it can be used as credits for GCSE, P.E. Louise works with leisure centres and clubs to deliver junior and adult lifesaving training and competitions. Save a baby, life support and first aid courses are popular in the community, especially with women’s groups, youth service, scout groups and sports clubs.