Farnham Swimming Club From well under water to the top of the pool! Chris Lee & Graham Chalkley
Agenda 1 Club Background Journey 2 Volunteers Recruitment Retention Reward Tips 3 Apprenticeships How it works The Value added 4 Cricket How does this work for you
History 1893 Club Founded 1895 First Competition 1898 First Outdoor Baths Club established with 30 swimmers in the River Wey, 5 years before the first swimming pool was built Records show a competition took place between Farnham and Guildford The first swimming baths were built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria 1914 WW1 The Club had a brief break during the World War 1 1931 Membership Increase Membership go over 100 for the first time 1932 Another New Pool A new pool was built in Aldershot and no time could be found for the Farnham swimmers - status quo today 1939 WW2 The Club had a brief break during the World War 1 1978 Heated Swimming 1981 Farnham Sports Centre 2009 Sport Centre Face Lift 2012 County Championships 2013 National Award Was a very important year for the swimmers as the pool was fitted with heating plant. Saw the opening of the long awaited Farnham Sports Centre complete with heating and a roof, what luxury Farnham Sports Centre was refurbished with spectator seating and electronic timing introduced. 44 club swimmers gained places in the Surrey County Championships which is 54% of the competitive squads, no other Surrey club has come close to this Club won the National Sports and Recreation Volunteer Club of the Year 2013 Governing Body Award Farnham Swimming Club are the ASA Club of the Year. 2013 National Champion Farnham Swimming Club has it first Age Group National Champion
That Sinking Feeling No Home to swim Alternative Swimming Pool Availability Club Fees Club Finances Club Management 1 Club Management 2 Bank Manager 2009 our home pool was refurbished so nowhere to swim. The impact was felt across all squads from ages 4 to 94 Other pool time had to be begged borrowed or stolen. Costs over and above the standard rate Pool time availability that was available to us was not conducive to young swimmers. Caused great squad disruption and swimmers leaving the club Club fees did not cover the basics to run the club No handle on who was paying when and how much they were paying. Fees were slow to be collected and debt list not chased down Club driven solely by Head Coach Committee not strong enough Bank balance quickly sunk into the red
Learning to Swim Again All Change The current committee takes over. Banking Part 1 The Committee underwrites the debt to the bank. Banking Part 2 Re-building Debt Collection Home to swim Afloat Management Team Complete Tasks at Hand Tough Decisions New Coach Success Business plan worked through with the bank backed by the guarantee over the Debt. Credit extended and club has a good financial footing. Re-structured the club with new processes. Re-structured the squad structure to maximise the numbers in each squad and shorten the wait list Restructured the fees and set processes in place to collect debt. Electronic banking introduced allowing real time reports and earlier heads up on bad debt Pool refurbished and the new committee managed to raise the funding support to incorporate Electronic timing, spectator seating and international starting blocks Finances re-balanced 2011 back in the black. Coaching staff given a long overdue pay rise. Club new committee lead and aligned to the NGB for how to run a club Swim 21 accreditation achieved 2012 with plaudits from the NGB. Head Coach left. Full time Head Coach employed. Ex Olympic swimmer. We have our first National Age Group Swimming Champion in 121 years!.
Recruitment Volunteers Team Talents Sign Up Quickly Dissenters Volunteers are the life blood of the Club and lots of communication and praise gets people interested The committee needs to be Strong, approachable, friendly and have the same goals and direction to move the Club forwards Understanding peoples talents. Get them doing what they are good at and don't put them in a situation that they are not comfortable with. Play them in their best position. Get them early - a fully involved family works well and is very stable. Turn negative comments into positive involvement. Problems do arise and we have made a point of meeting with members to understand their issues. We then try and turn this into positive participation in one way shape or form.
Retention Value Praise Communication Needs and Wants As with any task or job a team member needs to know that what they are doing is correct, meaningful and appreciated You can never tell someone enough what a good job they are doing. At any opportunity or conversation with others then tell the story again. This creates a sense of wellbeing and that one Club spirit. Volunteers love to know that they are doing a good job Whether you are talking to others, emailing or texting make it an opportunity to highlight the volunteers. Make friends with the local newspapers and local radio stations. They are always looking for good local stories. Write press articles about the Club s successes and ensure that volunteers are given the credit for the achievement it s great for everyone to see the Club and it s Aquaforce in print. Volunteering has to have that win-win feel. Getting the balance of right person for the right job and having the right tools to do the job or the offer of paid CPD or free team kit is a good hook to get and keep volunteers.
Reward Unity Praise Awards Internal Awards External Rewards Being part of a team. We give free Club kit to our volunteers and make sure that they have the right kit for the situation. You can never tell someone enough what a good job they are doing. At any opportunity or conversation with others then tell the story again. This creates a sense of wellbeing and that one Club spirit. Volunteers love to know that they are doing a good job and that they are part of a strong and successful team. Volunteers never get it wrong they just haven t been trained correctly or hadn t done that before. Always support them and help them to understand how to improve it next time. Make it a learning experience. We make sure that we have an Adult Volunteer of the Year and a Young Volunteer of the year presented at the yearly awards ceremony. All other significant volunteers also receive a gift on awards night. We also have a Chairman s award for outstanding contributions to the Club. There are lots of awards available for volunteering within each sport. Have a dedicated couple of volunteers who can enter these and pitch the right volunteer with a brief concise statement to support the entry. Awards ceremonies are enjoyed by all and again this raises the profile of the Club, the Sport and of course of volunteering. Free club kit, Summer BBQ, Winter Party and Sweets. Substantial Volunteers dinner.
Happy & Reliable Workforce Sociable Monitor Appreciative Readiness Timing May be simple but talking to your members and getting to know them and by being approachable is key. After each event look at what went well and what needs improving. Involve the team and get and value their input. Celebrate every successes. Always thank your volunteers. Whether face to face or via email a thank you is always appreciated. Lead by example, go that extra mile and actions speak louder that words all show your volunteers that you are the same as them and want the same results. Roll up your sleeves, if you help them they will help you tenfold times. Plan well in advance, key dates that your volunteers have in their diaries makes them fit in and plan around these. Know your team as there are always the fires to fight and you need to know who you can call on in a hurry.
Apprenticeship Programme What is it How We Work It Numbers Who Pays Routes through Education Now classed as any training programme that has a qualification at the end and is related to the industry that you are working in. We have an application process and interview process. We also look to support them through their GCSE PE or D of E volunteering. We have to date put 36 of our swimmers through the Apprenticeship programme. There are grants available through the NGB and through Project 500 for ladies and girls to learn to coach. These vary depending on the level of teaching or coaching certificate. The club funds the remainder of the fee. Once qualified and when in a paid role at the club the swimmer works off the hours to the value of the subsidy. As a club we have highlighted and have a wealth of information on the different courses that our volunteers can follow either in coaching or into an employment route after School and College.
Apprenticeship Programme Value Stability Planning Career Planning Support to Schools The sports industry gains a new set of coaches each year. The club has a succession plan and the swimmers identify with a peer. The Club has a stable workforce and clear succession plan. This programme helps us work out a short and long term coaching plan. The Head Coach has a qualified work force and knows that he has adequate cover when needed. The club offers support and guidance and identifies opportunities outside of the swimming club to support them when going to University or looking for that first full time job. As a club we have supported local schools and where we can offer opportunities to support the Duke of Edinburgh or GCSE and A level exams. As a club we also run the local schools swimming competitions, both Primary and Senior.
How does this work for you Use your tools Youth Involvement Adult Volunteers Grants The ECB has a wealth of information to start you off. There are 27 job descriptions for volunteers. It has the coaching routes mapped. Look within your clubs and look to identify which of your team members want to help. Look at their skills and look to how best you can support them and what you can offer them in the Club. Get to your know your parents. Offer them the win-win situation and make them feel part of your team. Again the ECB has a wealth of information for you to adapt to your own setting. Let them know of your needs and of the opportunities, teamwork and rewards in joining the Club s Wicketforce. Advertise these at the Club. Encourage them to help, if only in a small way at first while their children are taking part. Look at how you can fund your Coaching programme. Maybe add an extra 50p to your match fees and set this aside. If you have two Saturday teams that amounts to 550 over 20 matches. Enough to cover three Level 1 Coaches courses.
Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary! Love Cricket? We do! If you are passionate about cricket like we are then why not come down to OUR Cricket Club, one of Surrey s oldest established Clubs where we have been playing for over XXX years. Playing and teaching cricketers from 4 years old to Regional and National team members, For further information: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number.
Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary! Teas just don t make themselves! If you are passionate about cricket and want to get involved in volunteering either on or off the pitch then contact us at: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number.
Why not help to prepare the Table! If you are passionate about cricket and want to get involved in volunteering either on or off the pitch then contact us at: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number. Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary!
Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary! Do you always seem to know the Score? If you are passionate about cricket like we are then why not come down to OUR Cricket Club, one of Surrey s oldest established Clubs where we have been playing for over XXX years. Playing and teaching cricketers from 4 years old to Regional and National team members, For further information: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number.
Love Cricket? We do! If you are passionate about cricket like we are then why not come down to OUR Cricket Club, one of Surrey s oldest established Clubs where we have been playing for over XXX years. Playing and teaching cricketers from 4 years old to Regional and National team members, For further information: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number. Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary!
Love Cricket? We do! If you are passionate about cricket like we are then why not come down to OUR Cricket Club, one of Surrey s oldest established Clubs where we have been playing for over XXX years. Playing and teaching cricketers from 4 years old to Regional and National team members, For further information: please see the web site: www.; contact our new Member Secretary enquiries ; visit the club s new member desk in the entrance foyer of the Club at address, on Fridays in the summer from 5.00pm until 7.30pm; or call number. Be a part of your local Cricket Club Play or Volunteer don t just stand on the boundary!