On Sunday 12 October, swimmers, volunteers, friends and families from across all our WeSwim clubs came together at Ironmonger Row Baths for an afternoon of celebration, competition and community.
The WeSwim Gala is the highlight of our year. A joyful reminder of why we do what we do. It’s a day when every swimmer has their moment to shine, whether that’s diving into the deep end for the first time, swimming in a relay team for their club, or taking part in the assisted mini-length race with the help of one of our volunteers.
This year’s gala was packed with memorable moments.
We loved seeing some of our newest swimmers competing in front of their family and friends, cheers echoing around the pool.
The diving events brought laughter and courage in equal measure, with swimmers pushing past nerves to give it a go.
The range of races, from assisted mini-lengths to team relays, meant that everyone, whatever their ability, could take part. That’s what WeSwim is all about.
Our Old Street Club took home the overall cup (the home-pool advantage definitely helped!) but every club had reason to celebrate.
We were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jason Jackson, who brought warmth, energy and a deep sense of connection to the day. His genuine conversations with swimmers made a huge impact. He took the time to make sure everyone felt included, even those who had felt too overwhelmed to come up during the prize giving ceremony. It was a touching reminder of the kindness and empathy that sit at the heart of our community.
From baking cakes to designing programmes, creating banners, timing races, assisting in the pool and cheering from the sidelines. Our volunteers once again went above and beyond. You are the heartbeat of WeSwim, and we couldn’t do it without you.
A special thank you also goes to photographer Adam Toth, who captured the joy of the day so beautifully, and generously donated half of his fee back to WeSwim.
We’re deeply grateful to our funders and partners whose generous support helps us make events like this possible.
And a huge thank you to the brilliant team at Ironmonger Row Baths, who welcomed us warmly, supported us throughout the day, and helped us to create a space where every swimmer could feel safe, celebrated and included.
Swimmer Andrea summed up the day perfectly:
“Today’s gala was brilliant, it made my heart shine. Seeing how many people WeSwim is helping, and how many have grown in confidence, including myself, is incredible.”
And from another swimmer, Beauty:
“Beautiful experience and an eye opener. Thank you everyone, superb volunteers and Tash, for such an amazing day.”
The smiles, the laughter, and the moments of quiet pride told their own story.
Together, we are building a truly inclusive swimming community; one where everyone belongs.
