Swimmers dive into pathway
TALENTED young swimmers can take the plunge thanks to a talent programme.
Funded by charitable organisation, Your Trust Rochdale, the bespoke Talent Lanes programme aims to provide an established pathway for talented swimmers within the borough.
Talent Lanes is a six-week programme that helps identify swimmers, including para swimmers, with natural talent through development of techniques and skills.
The intention of the programme is to progress those with the desired abilities through to club level swimming and place them with the appropriate clubs to train in the borough, including Aquabears and Rochdale Swimming Club.
During the six-week programme, swimmers experience all the activities and training required in professional swimming. This includes lane discipline, starts and turns, experimenting with speed, working with fins, developing stamina and stroke technique, and club training experience.
John Weaver, Head Coach, from Aquabears, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for swimmers looking for an entry route to competing at County, Regional, National or International level.
“At Aquabears we look to take in top young talent and develop them as a person, athlete and competitor.
“This cannot happen without initiatives like this one with Your Trust.”
The Talent Lanes programme was first launched in 2023 after Your Trust Rochdale commissioned Swim England to review the Swimmer Pathway in the borough and identify what needed to be done to create a formalised pathway for local swimmers. The report involved various representatives from
Swim England who contributed to the report both from a club development and talent perspective, with findings then implemented thereafter.
Matthew Lees, Head Coach from Rochdale Swimming Club, said: “It’s been great seeing the talent on show over the last few weeks.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming them into Rochdale Swimming Club and continuing the good work started by Your Trust.”
The Your Trust Swim Academy team have worked together with local schools to identify 48 children to join the first six-week course that has recently started.
Estelle Rowe, CEO of Your Trust, said: “As a charity, we’re always looking at ways to reinvest in the borough and this
programme fits perfectly with our belief in supporting the local community to live active, happy, and healthy lives.
“Being able to identify so many children and young people in the first six weeks of the programme demonstrates the talent across Rochdale, and working together with the swimming clubs, it will be great to see children progress to club level.
“We can’t wait to see how this programme will soar and its continued success over the next 12 months.”
During each six-week course, the attendees are assessed to determine their future progression.
This includes the four As of aptitude, athleticism, attendance and attitude, which are all linked to high performing individuals with the determination to commit
to the demand at club level.
Your Trust is an independent charity, operating venues across the borough on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council including Touchstones Rochdale, Middleton Arena, Heywood Sports Village, Rochdale Leisure Centre, Littleborough Sports Centre and Hollingworth Lake Adventure and Water Activity Centre.