Survive and Save Club are based in Harrow, Middlesex is an accredited Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Swim21 Teaching Clubmark Club, Approved Training centre and Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) Approved Training centre for the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification providing learn to swim opportunities and converting swimmers into lifesavers to save lives.

• The challenge

Asian girls' participation within sports has always been an issue as a target group under represented within the community.

• Key actions

We have been very successful including in attracting ethnic minorities to the club of around 260 members. The club surrounds a wide diverse community and we have focused on inclusion rather than targeted the specific communities. However, as we are a non competitive club, this is one of the key features creating a non threatening environment. In addition, our teaching staff has a number of both Asian males and females teaching and within our committee management structure. Therefore this inclusive approach greeted by our club reception for enquiries and signing in to our teaching staff enables clear strong role models encouraging people to participate. Furthermore, we have an increasing number of youth members helping, assisting or teaching which supports our work. Our pathways from swimming into lifesaving are clear. This ensures participants have opportunities to gain awards and qualifications but also allows them chances to join our teaching staff.

• The solution

The key is to ensure a friendly environment promoting equality and inclusion is essential. In addition, we have 10 out of 27 teaching staff as Asian Women themselves which reflects the community as well. The role models within the teaching and committee staff combined with the marketing of our club aids the participation rates. We have begun to run a series of the ScUK Equity in your Coaching workshop for our teaching staff and we have a clear club constitution and code of ethics that is adhered to. If you promote equality and begin to increase your ethnic minority representation on your coaching / administration staff, this will send a message for all to participate within the sport.

• The future

We have expanded into providing learn to swim lessons for adults and this is proving to be popular. We have currently two classes with possible expansion. Once again, we have an increasing number of Asian women participating within mixed sex classes.

• Contact details

Ray Lau, Education & Development Officer, Survive and Save Club
Email: rlauma@hotmail.com
www.surviveandsave.org