Charity supports disabled people into swimming, pairing them up with volunteers to help them get in the pool and enjoy their time in the water
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“What our volunteers always talk about is the sense of community and supporting people they perhaps wouldn’t normally meet,” said Rosie Farrer, operations manager at WeSwim.
“There’s also networking with other volunteers and participants, but really it’s just the happiness and joy they feel that keeps them coming back.”
WeSwim is coming to south-east London.
The charity supports disabled people into swimming, pairing them up with volunteers to help them get in the pool and enjoy their time in the water.
Founded six years ago, it’s grown to five clubs and will open two more this year.
One of those will be at the newly minted Canada Water Leisure Centre, part of British Land’s extensive project to regenerate and develop the area, operated by Southwark Council
The facility is set to open in early September 2025, with WeSwim sessions expected to start shortly afterwards.
Consequently the charity is looking for volunteers to help run the sessions.
becoming a WeSwim volunteer
“We ask people to commit to coming twice a month, especially when first starting out,” said Rosie.
“The sessions lend themselves well to a creative mindset because it’s about supporting the person in front of you and problem solving together.
“For example, I was swimming with a guy who had limited mobility on one side of his body and we were figuring out how he could use a float because he couldn’t grip it with his hand. It was fun and collaborative.
“Some participants have particular goals they’re working on, but we have people engaged in a huge variety of activities in every session.
“For some, it might just be about getting in the water.
“People can turn up really fearing the pool and so the work is about just helping them take those first steps.
“Then it might be putting their face in the water and learning to just float on their back.
“There are lots of benefits to being in the water.
“Often the feeling of weightlessness and the support it gives them is really helpful.
“Alternatively, a participant may be recovering from a stroke and the session might be useful for rehabilitation.
“For lots of participants and volunteers alike, attending is also about the social side.
“We often focus on the exercise, but for many these sessions are a highlight in their week – getting out and seeing friends.
“The participants and volunteers are a very diverse group – we’re a big melting pot.”
For Rosie, getting involved with WeSwim brought together her passion for working for and with charities as well as her love of the water.
from charity work to the benefits of swimming
She said: “I have lots of experience of working with charity startups and bodies that fund projects.
“I’m also a coach and a facilitator who supports people that are perhaps a bit stuck in their lives and help them decide what they want to do next.
“I run women’s retreats too, many of which involve outdoor swimming and walking and I’m an outdoor swim coach too.
“I love the water and so the job at WeSwim has been great.
“I’ve been working with the charity for about 12 months to help it grow.
“Personally, I love the sessions. Getting in the water with WeSwim is just so joyful.
“You can have had a rubbish day at work, maybe it’s a cold January evening and then you find yourself supporting someone who wouldn’t normally be able to swim.
“It puts the rest of your life in perspective.
“Going to a session and seeing people’s faces always brightens up my day. It feels like the work we do as a charity has a real impact.
“All you need to do to be able to volunteer is to get in the water yourself and be confident swimming.
“Sometimes people think we are looking for swimming teachers and that’s not really it at all.
“Sometimes participants want to improve their strokes and we offer training to support that, but it’s definitely not a requirement.
“Potential volunteers might be worried about whether they will know what to do – what disabilities they may be faced with.
“Again, we provide training and we also have a strong core of volunteers that operate each club.
“They’ve been working with the charity for many years and they are very confident and able to support others in the water if there are specific issues as well as providing hints, tips and tricks to help improve participants’ experiences.
“There’s always support. You won’t be expected to get someone out of a wheelchair and into the water on your own, for example.
“For each session there’s always a safeguarding lead who knows exactly what participants’ disabilities are and will be on hand to assist if necessary.
“One of the things that’s important for us, however, is that we don’t want to lead with a participant’s disability.
“At the sessions, they explain what they can and can’t do themselves – it’s never about the disability really, it’s about the person.
“Our volunteers are wonderful people. They are mostly young professionals who are doing this after work to bring a bit of joy to their day.
“Some want to support people with disabilities and others are keen swimmers and are passionate about making sure people can access the water.”
key details: WeSwim at Canada Water
WeSwim is set to launch its Canada Water Leisure Centre club in early September 2025.
Sessions will take place on Tuesday nights from 6.45pm-8pm, priced £2 for disabled participants.
The charity is currently looking for volunteers to help run them.
Neither participants nor volunteers need to be members at the centre.
Find out more about the charity here
CANADA WATER LEISURE CENTRE
Canada Water Leisure Centre is set to open its doors on September 1, 2025, and includes an extensive gym and swimming pool facilities.
As an intro offer, membership costs £20.25 for the first three months and then £43.99 per month which includes access to all Southwark Leisure sites
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