6-Monthly Progress Report , January 2026
Project Details
Project title: Come Fly With Us at Duns Swimming Club- Introducing a new hourly
Swimming Training Programme specifically for Beginners aged 8-12 year olds, plus
supporting Coaching Training for local people, particularly young people.
Grant reference:BF0300
Project start date: June/July 2025
Reporting period: 6 month report for a 12 month funded project.
Total grant amount: £2,000
Amountspent to date: £1,000
- Project Overview
This project set out to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Duns Swimming
Club by A) increasing swimmer participation numbers once young people leave
swimming lessons, and B) developing coaching skills from within the local
community. It supports children and young people from Duns and surrounding rural
areas by providing accessible, high-quality swim training opportunities, clear
progression routes, and leadership development through coaching. Working with
Duns Swimming Pool, and closely with the other Borders swimming clubs to share
knowledge, the project helps protect an important rural community asset at a time
whenaccess to affordable sport is increasingly limited. Building on the club’s long
standing reputation for nurturing skills, confidence, and positive role models, the
project also brings together families and volunteers, reduces barriers to participation,
and ensures young people can benefit from a safe, inclusive environment that
promotes wellbeing, belonging, and future opportunities.
What We’ve Achieved So Far
Here are some key highlights:
A) Newswimmerprogramme underway
Astructuredpathway hasbeenintroduced, supporting young swimmers to
begin with 2 hours of training per week with possible progression towards
full squad participation.
We’vehad6newswimmers(aged9to12)trialwith the club since June. Of
those 5 have now joined the club, while the other was referred to swimming
lessons for some further support before progressing to the club. One of the
girls who began has already increased training hours from 2 hours to full
time hours and taken part in her first competition.
Recruitmentof trial swimmers has been through the Duns cluster swim gala
weheld, as well as referrals from Duns Swimming Pool, and through our
ownmarketing efforts including a new Facebook campaign “Power Up with
Duns ASC” for the newprogramme offer, and leaflets distributed to pool
lesson swimmers.
B) Coaching training for Club volunteers and young people
Oneofourparentvolunteers andpoolside helpers, Morag, has progressed
to become our coach. She has been signed up to complete the Scottish
Swimming Coaching Qualification (SSCQ). This was postponed by the training
body and is nowduetotake place January to March 2026.
Twoofourmostexperiencedolder swimmers havebeen supportedto gain
skills outside of swimming. They have been assisting as poolside helpers, as well
as become lifeguards at the pool. This has been very helpful as a platform for
them to increase their learning, and has also tied in with their Duke of Edinburgh
Award goals.
Ourswimmingclubisthesmallest in the Scottish Borders, but we do have
great volunteer involvment.
Of our poolside helpers, 5 attended the Poolside Educator Course which
comprised several training sessions run by Head Coach Ian Pemble of
Eyemouth Swimming Club.
Whencompeting at swim meets it is a prerequisite to send officials on
behalf of your club. Thereofre, we also attended the official
Timekeeper’s Course, required by the national body, Scottish Swimming.
3 of our parent helpers took part.
Wecompleted our Scottish Swimming Aquamark Level 1 accreditation,
which is a nationally recognised standard that highlights clubs which are
strong, sustainable and inclusive.
C) Strong partnership working
Collaboration with Duns Swimming Pool is supporting smoother progression
from swimming lessons into club training.
Sinceourprevious coach Susanne retired in June, we have strengthened
relationships with other swimming clubs across the Scottish Borders and
beyond to ensure we have been ableto deliver high quality swimming
training for our youngsters while we began recruitment for a new coach. We
have had support with our lesson planning from Andrew Ross, a former
Duns ASC swimmer, whois now HeadCoach at Dunfermline ASC, weekly
onsite support and guidance from Head Coach Steve Powell of Galashiels
ASC, and coaching mentoring from Ian Pemble, former Head Coach of
Eyemouth & District ASC.
D) Schools engagement planned
ADuns Cluster primary schools taster event took place in May, creating new entry
routes into the club and laying the groundwork for wider rural outreach. Since then
wehavebeenworking with Active Schools and ClubSport Berwickshire to provide
opportunities for taster sessions for young people.
E) Capacity rebuilding post-pandemic
The project is responding effectively to delayed swimmer progression following
2020–2021, positioning the club to grow membership as readiness increases.
F) Access and affordability supported
The partial lane hire funding secured from Blackhill Blackhill Windfarm Community
Fund, together with the CELCA Community Trust is helping to keep sessions
accessible while membership income supports delivery.
G) Future sustainability strengthened
Plans are in place to train new coaches, ensuring coaching continuity and long-term
club sustainability. - Difference Made
This project has been an ambition for us for some time now, to be able to offer
hourly sessions for the younger swimmers to have a more accessible route from half
hour lessons to full swimming club training. While we are still lower in numbers than
we would like, we are starting to see the results of our marketing and increased
connections locally in more enquiries from new swimmers.
We have been very impressed by the maturity of our older swimmers taking on more
responsible roles, and encouraged that by seeking advice and support from other
clubs in the borders, we have developed more robust plans for sustainability.
The key for the club now is to ensure we have enough new swimmers recruited
through this new programme offer to be able to financially sustain the club. - Challenges
During this period there have been some external circumstances that have had an
impact on the club. These are listed below with our responses to each.
A) Duns Swimming Pool hire increases- the pool hire has increased from December
2025.
Whatwe’ve done: Asa response we have cut our training hours from 2 hours x 3
times per week, to 1.5 hours x 3 times a week. Our committee took the decision to
do this rather than increase membership fees for our swimmers, as we want to
ensure we can remain as affordable as possible. This is why, now more than ever,
funding support from Blackhill Windfarm is very much needed and we are very
gratefu for it.
B) Coach recruitment issues- Despite widely advertising for a new coach on the
national Scottish Swimming website and Sport Scotland, as well as on our own
channels, we were unable to recruit a new coach from outside of our Club.
Whatwe’ve done: One of our parents and poolside helpers, Morag, agreed to
undertake the coaching training and become our new Head Coach. She has had full
support from the committtee, the poolside helpers, as well as mentoring and help
from other coaches (as already mentioned).
C) Delayed Coach course by Scottish Swimming- originally planned to run in October,
this has now moved to January 2026. - Plans for the Next 6 Months
Wehavesix newtrial swimmers potentially coming in during the next month.
Wearehoping to provide more taster sessions over the next few months, and we
remain open for trials throughout the year. Our coach will undertake the necessary
official coaching training, and will be fully qualified.
In terms of our funding, we are also exploring further grant applications to help us to
keep afloat and growing.
Declaration
I confirm that the information provided in this report is accurate.
Name:Jo Roberts
Role: Membership Secretary
Organisation: Duns A.S.C
Date: 08/01/2026
