OKEHAMPTON Otters hosted a reception on November 20 to thank the many and varied supporters of the club.
The reception was held at the annual club championships where for the first time the club used its new electronic timing system. Over the last two years Otters has benefited from nearly £9,250 of funding. The club has a membership of some 140 children between the ages of seven to 17 from the Okehampton area, the life saving part of the club provides tuition to around ten teenagers a year to the bronze medallion standard and 30 eight to 12 year olds are currently working their way through the Rookie life saving modules. The organisation and coaching at Otters is undertaken by 23 adult volunteers.
Funders to the club include Okehampton United Charities, who provided £4,100 for the timing system and £2,590 for training coaches, the Manor House Hotel £800 for the timing system, Waitrose £609 towards resuscitation dummies and equipment, EX20 Lottery £500 towards the timing system, West Devon Borough Council £277.90 for training aids and £143.58 towards resuscitation dummies, and Okehampton and District Lions Club £190 for child protection courses.
Otters have also raised funds at a coffee morning and a car washing event with the great support of Maria Cooper at Mole Avon. Otters were also fortunate enough to benefit as one of Okehampton Carnival's beneficiaries this year.
Without this kind of support, running the club would be very difficult.
The funding in the last two years has been essential and given the club a real boost bringing in more club members, helpers, volunteers and new equipment. The club would like to say big thank you to all.
Despite the generosity of local supporters the club still needs funding, especially for training and currently the club is looking to raise a further £4,000 to cover the cost of swim coach training for volunteer staff at both Level One and Two of the Amateur Swimming Association coaching programme. It also needs funding for Safeguarding and Protecting Children training which costs £35 per person for all our helpers.
l Pictured above, some of the swimmers and specially invited guests at the reception. Picture by Ian Snell