Swimming club makes a splash with £1,000 funding boost

Musselburgh Amateur Swimming Club (MASC) has received a £1,000 donation from leading regional housebuilder Persimmon Homes East Scotland.

We established the Community Champions scheme to provide financial support to charities, organisations and good causes across the region.

Debbie Lawson from MASC said: “We have a group of young adults who have made significant progress through our swimming club and now swim as either part of our Club Squad or East Lothian Swim Team.  Several of them are now stepping up to become coaches themselves, having already completed the Scottish Swimming Poolside Helpers course, which was developed by our coaching team here at MASC. They already work as poolside volunteers and are dedicated to the sport of swimming not only for themselves, but so they can also be involved in the development of our younger members.

“They are now ready to take their level one coaching qualification and we have one coaching member who is ready to commence the level two course.  The donation we have received from Persimmon is being used to part fund the training courses for these dedicated young people and will support them in the development of these valuable skills.  This will not only benefit our swimming club but will advance their sense of responsibility and understanding of teamwork, which are important life skills. 

“We are extremely grateful to Persimmon Homes East Scotland for this funding and would like to say a big thank you on behalf of everyone at the club.”

Laura Still, sales director of Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said: “The sport of swimming is widely recognised as one of the best all round forms of exercise as well as building confidence in young people, developing team spirit and learning life skills.  We are very happy to provide this funding for MASC as it will be very well spent on the personal development of the individuals training to be coaches, while helping younger club members learn and improve their swimming.

“Community Champions is open to charities, organisations and good causes of all kinds.  Our online form is very easy for applicants to complete and in doing so they could very easily become next month’s beneficiary, so we would encourage them to go online and have a go.”

East Scotland is currently building new homes at its Burgh Gate development in Old Craighall, Musselburgh.