A local swimming club has made a plea for funding to help provide medals to its young swimmers.
Jon Burgess-Lee, fundraiser for Wisbech Swimming Club, made a pitch to Monday night’s meeting of the town council ahead of applying for some cash through its annual grants funding.
He explained the club, which is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country, pays out £53,000 a year to use the town’s Hudson swimming pool – the money for that comes through membership fees.
Jon said that at the end of the season, the club had just £188 in the bank.
He explained the club’s members compete in competitions across the country and regularly bring home medals.
However, there are some members who are unable to travel to compete, so the club organises its own annual championship, which is held in September.
He said the competition gives all members a chance to compete and to win medals.
But he said the cost of the medals is another burden on the club, which relies on parents and friends to boost funds with raffles and other fundraising events.
“As parents, we are providing the raffle prizes, buying the tickets, and winning the prizes, in some ways it would be easier just to hand over extra cash,” he said.
But he hopes that the town council will help by providing £700 to pay for this year’s medals.
He is also hoping local businesses will get behind the club and offer prizes and sponsorship.
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Jon pointed out that the club is an asset to the town, and its members are proud to represent Wisbech when they compete in competitions across the country.
He said the swimmers do brilliantly, often bringing home gold even when competing against teams from much larger cities and towns.
Cllr Susan Wallwork, a town councillor and also a Fenland District Councillor and portfolio holder for leisure, said she would be happy to talk to the club about what more can be done to support them.
Jon made his pitch during the meeting’s public forum, which meant councillors were unable to speak on the matter; however, later in the meeting Cllr Sam Hoy, the council’s leader, urged him to ensure the club makes its bid for council funding.
She said it was nice to hear something so positive and added that it was really important for children to learn to swim in an area like ours, where there is so much water.
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