Young Volunteers
2022/23 Young Volunteer Programme
Applications are now closed for the programme which will be run by Swim England South West Region from October 2022 until the end of July 2023. Read more.
We provide lots of opportunities to develop the skills of Young Volunteers who benefit greatly from their experiences and mentoring.
Somerset ASA County Championships
As always, we require a good number of volunteers to support the safe running of the County Championships. Please can all Clubs encourage young volunteers to put themselves forward for roles.
Clip: How our young volunteers can get involved in our County Championships!
Daisy is a member of Bridgwater Swimming Club and also works with Kelly Podbury, our Meet Manager, as a swimming teacher at Brean Splash.
Daisy volunteered her own time to come along and learn how to be a recorder and Kelly’s co Meet Manager and County President, Neil Chambers, reported that she did an outstanding job. View Kelly's tribute.
Here’s what another volunteer said about their experience: "Having never volunteered before, I really enjoyed it. Everyone was so friendly, supportive and worked really well as a team considering we had never met before."
Somerset ASA County Championships 2022
Our thanks go to the Young Volunteers who supported our return to championship competition at Millfield in 2022.
Somerset ASA Development Meet
Events such as our Level 3 Development Meet provide opportunities for your Club's volunteers to gain practical experience in a variety of roles and we issue calls for volunteers to sign up for sessions they would like to support.
Are you the future of sports entertainment? We're looking for a number of volunteers to take us to the next level by helping us live stream events. Please let us know asap which of these fantastic opportunities interest you.
Swim England South West Youth Advisory Panel - Call for Applications
The Region is looking for a keen group of six to eight young volunteers between the ages of 15-20 who are prepared to speak out about key issues or ideas they might have about their sport, volunteering or their club. The key purpose of this panel is to bring together young people from different aquatic disciplines and backgrounds to provide a youth voice for the South West Region.
Members of the panel will meet at least once a quarter, be able to share their ideas in both group and private environments and actively take part in projects which support the region including the development of the regional young volunteer programme. More info and how to apply here.
Regional Young Volunteer of the Year
Eva Farmery is Swim England South West Young Volunteer of the Year for 2022 in recognition of her achievements.. View news item. Sue is pictured receiving her award along with Club Colleague Sue Clinton who was Regional Volunteer of the Year. Both go through to the. national awards ceremony which will be held on Saturday 26 November at the University of Birmingham.
The Sarah Pusill Young Volunteer of the Year Award
We normally call for nominations each year. While County President, Kelly Podbury paid tribute to the value of Volunteers when she visited Weston-super-Mare Swimming Club in November 2020 to present winner, Angharad Laraman (pic). View report.
Young volunteers like those in the 2018/19 cohort pictured below are the future of our sport. Your County promotes, supports and offers grants for programmes which help Clubs to develop the skills and experience needed by Young Volunteers, Coaches and Officials.
Visit The Good Club Guides on Swim England website to download Engaging Young Volunteers.
Swim England South West launched its Young Volunteer programme for 2020-21 with the aim of& giving development opportunities to those members in clubs aged 14 - 18 years of age who have not yet been able to access pool time, have limited access, or those who may have been thinking of leaving the club. The deadline for applications has just been extended. Please contact Jackie Hilleard (jackiehilleard@gmail.com) if you need further information or the latest application forms.
Swim England South West coordinate the Young Volunteers Programme in Somerset and support their personal development. The programme supported 22 Young Volunteers from Chard, Clevedon, TeamBath AS, Taunton Deane Water Polo, Weston-super-Mare and ANT Swimming from October 2019 until the end of July 2020, with 25 hours of volunteering and a log book to be completed by end of July 2020. View
- previous details announcement of the Programme which benefited Clubs providing the opportunities before Covid-19 prevailed.
- courses, event and funding opportunities in 2020 which we asked Clubs to share with young people, members and in Club networks
Please contact Jackie Hilleard if you have Young Volunteer training needs and contact Colin Christmas to enquire about Club Development funding.
Interested in joining a Regional Swim England Youth Advisory Panel?
Keen young volunteers aged 15-20 from different aquatic disciplines and backgrounds wanting to speak out about key issues or ideas they might have about their sport, volunteering or club should register their interest in joining a regional panel.
Boost your Career Prospects
Volunteering can give you skills and experience which could be valuable for your future career.
Additional volunteering opportunities within Aquatics may be offered outside of the club environment. If you are interested please contact us for further details
Our 2018-19 Young Volunteers emulated their 2017-18 YVs and inspied colleagues with their enthusiasm and we thank their Clubs for providing opportunities to develop their skills.
Young volunteers benefit greatly from their experiences and mentoring. Past Programmes have given wider recognition of our Young Volunteers' achievements and seen a boost to cv's for young people embarking on future careers.
Video: For Volunteer's Week 2019, SASP also highlighted some of its great volunteers that help with all sorts of sessions around the county. Meet Charlotte who helps teach Swimming to kids.
Somerset Young Volunteer of the Year
Each year we ask who you feel deserves to be recognised for the work they do, on poolside or behind the scenes in your Club The Sarah Pusill Young Volunteer Award was introduced by our Past President as a way of rewarding talented and enthusiastic young volunteers from around the County. The perpetual trophy will be held by the winner for a year. Winners were announced at our 2019 AGM.
Young Volunteer Awards 2017/18
Citations and names of nominees for the Sarah Pusill Young Volunteer Award 2018 and winners were announced at our AGM on 26 May 2018 and published during Volunteers' Week (1 to 7 June 2018). We are very grateful for the work they do, on poolside and behind the scenes.
Young Volunteer of the Year: Ila Brandimarte (pictured)
Runners Up: Joe McLachlan and Katie Chambers. View Gallery from AGM.
Young Volunteer Awards 2016/17
Congratulations to Somerset ASA Young Volunteer of the Year Libby Aldridge (Taunton Deane) who was presented with the Sarah Pusill Trophy by 2016/17 President Paul Sartain (pictured below).
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| Winner 2016/17 | Runners Up 2016/17 | |
| Libby Aldridge (Taunton Deane) | 2. Grace Cook (Bath Dolphin) 3. Evan King (Weston-super-Mare) |
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| Nominee 2016/17 | Nominee 2016/17 | |
| Elliot Lewis (Norton Radstock) | Georgia Vause (Norton Radstock) |
Young Volunteer Awards 2015/16
Somerset ASA Young Volunteer of 2015/16 Nathan Clarke (Burnham-on-Sea) is pictured with 2015/16 President Les Debenham and team mate Chris Wood who was second runner-up.
Liam Willcox - A Young Volunteer's Story
Norton Radstock Swimming Club's Captain shares his journey as a Young Volunteer in the videos below.
Liam has has not only received deserved recognition for services to aquatics as a Young Volunteer at the 2014 West of England Celebration of Sport Evening , but also at 2014 ASA Aquaforce and Sports Officlals Uk events. Liam joined the Management Committee in May 2015 and has also been on the ASA National Youth Forum.
Youth Forum Network
We are keen to see young people involved in the actual process of making decisions which affect them. They are more likely to engage with all aspects of their club as a result, and develop as capable young leaders, with guidance and support from experienced club members.Download