What is a Pool Volunteer?
Can you spend a few hours a week chatting to disabled people and supporting them to swim?
We are looking for volunteers around the Old Street or Tottenham Green areas to join our dynamic, upbeat, safe and inclusive clubs that brings people together through swimming.
As a volunteer, your main responsibility is to chat with our disabled swimmers and make them feel welcome. Loneliness and isolation is very common amongst people with disabilities and this will be the highlight of the week for many of our swimmers and we want them to have a good time and make meaningful friendships.
Your role will be helping them in the water but you do not need to be a qualified swimming teacher or elite swimmer yourself, we will give you the training you need. It is mostly about encouraging them in their swimming stroke or to carry out physio exercises that they have been given.
What’s in it for you?
- Being part of a friendly team
- Meeting people and making new friends
- Engagement with the wider community
What’s involved?
- Communication with disabled swimmers making them feel welcome
- Physically supporting swimmers in and out of the water, as necessary
- Encouraging swimmers to help them achieve their goals
This role will suit people who…
Have a friendly and enthusiastic manner and enjoy working with people. People who are compassionate and confident chatting to people from all backgrounds. Someone with experience of disability. You must be confident in the water, but that doesn’t mean you need to be an elite swimmer.
We proactively support diversity, in all its forms, and welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with disabilities.
Extra information
Location: Ironmonger Row Baths, Park Road Pools & Fitness, Golden Lanes pool
Sessions: Friday 6.45-7.45pm, Monday 6-7pm, Wednesday 7-8pm
Commitment: Minimum 2 sessions / month (~3 hrs / month)
Training: Task specific training will be provided to you as a volunteer
About WeSwim
Our mission is to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to swim in London. To do this we support existing swimming clubs, launch new clubs in areas of need and provide a resource to find information on the services available.
Our primary focus is on the mental, physical and social benefits of community led clubs where everyone is welcome. With dedicated pool space and the support of our fantastic volunteers WeSwim provides welcoming and safe swimming sessions for swimmers with disabilities. Whether you are new to swimming, you need to build your confidence or you would like to work on particular exercises in the water we are here to support you.
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.