Hi All,

Thanks to everyone who managed to make it to the meeting this morning regarding the changes that are likely to be happening soon to Stingrays.

In particular I would like to thank the parents who came forward to offer their help with these changes. (You know who you are!!)

Also a huge thank you to our Head Coach Mark who hopes to help with a few sessions each week, and is willing to put a training plan in place for us.

For all who attended here is a recap – and to those who didn’t make it here is the plan!

All aquatic sport within the City of Swansea is to be drawn under one umbrella - Swimming, Masters Swimming, Disability Swimming, Water Polo and Diving.

This will affect us and meetings have been on-going over the last month or so to ensure a fair outcome.

Huw Griffiths,  the Swim Wales Disability Swimming Development Manager, has been working closely with the council and Swim Wales to provide us with a development plan to ensure that disabled swimmers have a clear and fair pathway from grassroots level swimming through to elite level.

At present the current provision for disabled swimmers in Swansea is through Stingrays for one hour a week on a Sunday, with swimmers wishing to progress being shepherded out into mainstream clubs.

His vision is for Stingrays to develop into a club that offers more training and a better competitive pathway. Obviously not everyone will become an elite swimmer or wants extra training but this option provides the opportunity for those who want it.

So, if you are en route to elite sport, this can be a great starting point, if you just want to get fitter this is perfect for you, or if you want to get faster and improve your technique then this is a great opportunity for you also – of course if you want to remain the same with just the hour session on a Sunday then this is wonderful too 

The suggestion for fees is as follows, but may be subject to change.

There will be three levels of fees – the first will mean a slight increase to swimmers who opt to remain with just the one session on a Sunday Morning from £15 up to £18.These swimmers will be in Stingrays squad 1. (At present all one-to-one swimmers will need to be in Stingrays 1 due to restrictions with staff.)

The second level fee will include two sessions per week and this will be £23 per month. These swimmers will be in Stingrays squad 2.

The third level fee will include 5 hours training and this will be £28 per month. These swimmers will be in Stingrays competitive development squad.

The proposed sessions and venues (not yet confirmed) are as follows:-

Monday – Bishop Gore – 8pm-9pm

Wednesday – Olchfa – 7pm-9pm

Thursday – Bishop Gore – 7pm-8pm

Saturday – Bishop Gore – 8.30am - 9.30am

Sunday – WNPS – 9.30am - 10.30am

Sunday – Bishop Gore – 7pm-8pm

Parents who attended the meeting this morning were all given a brief questionnaire to complete (as below) - to register their interest in this plan. I look forward to feedback next week. For absent parents could you please let me know which option you prefer via email or at the pool next week?

If your swimmer is suitable for extra swimming – would you be interested in

(1)    An extra hour session each week (Sunday plus one)    YES/NO

(2)    An extra 4 hours each week (Sunday plus 2x1hr sessions and 1x2hr session) YES/NO

(3)    No change – one session is sufficient YES/NO

Huw Griffiths will attend Stingrays next Sunday and will be available for any queries you may have about this transition.

*Note to our Volunteers

To all our amazing volunteers – we value and appreciate all your commitment on Sundays – we could never manage without you so please keep coming!!!! If by any miracle you feel you could spare some time to help out with any of the other sessions then this would significantly help with continuity for our members. Please could you let me know if you can spare any time.If this is not possible and you know of anyone else who may be interested in getting involved then please pass on my number – maybe some potential volunteers don’t like getting up on a Sunday morning and would be happier with an evening session?? Failing that I shall begin recruiting and hope that maybe we can get some help from our ‘umbrella’.

Kind Regards

Wendy