The Swimathon Foundation has launched a relief fund to help the swimming and aquatics community deal with the impact and effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Foundation will seek to allocate grants of between £250 and £1,000 to small swimming and aquatic organisations experiencing short-term financial hardship from the effects of the pandemic, especially where access to financial support is not otherwise available. These range from national governing body-affiliated swim clubs, aquatic clubs and swim schools to independent swimming organisations.

Swimathon president and Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew MBE said: “I’m thrilled that we’re able to support members of the swimming community at this difficult time.

“Almost all swimming clubs are run by a few individuals who put in an immense amount of voluntary time to keep clubs afloat. Now that hard times have hit, they may be really struggling with all of the costs associated.

“These are the unsung heroes of the sport and it’s so important that we do all we can to help them get through this tough time.”

The Swimathon Foundation was founded in 1997 to bring together the swimming community and spread the benefits of swimming whilst raising money for some of the UK’s most deserving charities. The Foundation organises ‘Swimathon’, the UK’s biggest annual recreational swimming event. It takes place over one weekend at over 600 pools across the UK and 750,000 people have taken part since the first event in 1986, raising over £50 million for charities in the process. This year’s event has been rearranged for October 16-18.

Swimathon chairman Anthony Kendall OBE said: “Swimathon has been raising money for good causes for 33 years, and this fund is a crucial part of its plan to give back to those in the swimming community who are struggling to make ends meet at this time.”

To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants should either be a registered or affiliated club or swim school with a national governing body or a small, local swimming organisation that may not be a traditional swim club/school but is working on local level to provide swimming or aquatic activity in their communities. Applicants are welcomed from all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For more information about The Swimathon Foundation and to apply for a grant, visit www.swimathonfoundation.org.