Leisure East Devon Ltd (LED) has signed a five-year agreement with the ASA to deliver the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme.

LED is a Charitable Trust, set up in January 2006 to operate sports facilities in East Devon. There are three swimming pools operated by the trust; Honiton Swimming and Leisure, Exmouth Swimming and Leisure and Sidmouth Swimming Pool. The buildings are all owned by East Devon Council.

Honiton Swimming and Leisure Centre began the new scheme last year. Currently 328 children and 20 adults attend lessons each week. The swim school has links with Honiton Swimming Club who compete in local events and Exeter Synchronised Swimming Club who compete nationally.  This centre has also been able to achieve premier status in Aquamark.

Exmouth Swimming and Leisure offer Adult & Child classes and an adult learn to swim programme as well as a swim school for children. The swim school currently feeds into the trust’s own Dolphin Club which is non-competitive as well as Exmouth Swimming Club which is competitive.

Sidmouth Swimming Pool has approximately 500 children in their swim school as well as 15 adults. The pool also runs a swimming club for children with special educational needs which is well attended. A number of children now attend the Sid Vale Sharks Swimming Club having graduated successfully from the special needs club.

Simon Davey, Manager, Honiton Swimming & Leisure, said “All three centres are very excited about signing up with the ASA to improve our swimming programmes and to ensure that people in our area have the best opportunity to learn to swim and to improve their swimming techniques irrespective of age or ability.”

He went on to say “We find the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme and the National Plan for Teaching Swimming very easy to work with and they have proved to be a great success with our children who are improving in their overall swimming skills.”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Since our partnership with the ASA began in 1997, more than 13 million swimming awards have been presented to youngsters across the country, making it the most successful awards scheme in British sport. We will be celebrating this success at the Kellogg’s Swimtastic Awards in October, which recognises those pool based projects that benefit the community the most.”

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For more information contact the ASA PR Assistant Claire Freeman on 01509 632262 or email claire.freeman@swimming.org

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn to Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to .www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Kellogg’s
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

The ASA’s merchandising department has secured re-certification for the new BSI standard IOS 9001:2008, a standard of quality that is recognized and respected throughout the world.

The ASA’s Awards Centre in the Kingfisher Enterprise Park, Redditch, underwent a major BSI audit early this month to examine the quality of the centre’s management systems, which deal with sales of almost two million certificates and badges, as well as the sales of other ASA products.

The auditor found the ASA was complying with all of the standards needed to achieve the quality mark and has reported he is pleased to recommend the continuation of the ASA’s registration.
Specifically the auditor looked at key business areas including customer complaints and the pick, pack and dispatch process.

The report praised the centre for ‘effectively implementing’ the necessary quality administration and acknowledged the role ‘top management’ played at the Centre, stating they ‘demonstrated a commitment to the system and requirements of the standard.’

Jane Nickerson, the ASA’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is a great achievement for the Awards Centre to have met the BSI standard and received ongoing certification, especially as this was not just a routine audit but a major re-accreditation against the new standard.

“The auditor found no non-conformities against the standard and, as we also passed our last audit six months ago with no non-conformities, this demonstrates the high standards we have kept in the past year.

“We sell around two million badges and certificates through our Awards Centre so it’s important to us to make sure our customers are happy. This complete clean bill of health just shows how hard all of the staff at our Redditch base have worked to achieve this high standard of customer care, with support from the team at our head offices in Loughborough.”

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For more information contact the ASA PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Kellogg's
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg's has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg's ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Nominations are now open for the Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards which celebrate some of the country’s most outstanding non-elite achievements in the pool.

Aimed at amateur swimmers, the awards recognise people of all ages and abilities as well as those responsible for providing learn to swim lessons. The awards are divided into ten clear categories and recognise achievements made through the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme. 

National winners will be invited to a special awards ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon on the 16th October 2009 where they will be able to join Britain’s top aquatic athletes in the pool before receiving their awards at a celebration dinner and disco in the evening.

Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry, who has been involved with the Kellogg’s Swimtastic Awards for many years, and will be hosting the awards event this year, said: “Kellogg’s Swimtastic is a brilliant way of recognising people who enjoy swimming and who have reached personal goals in the pool,” he said.  “Swimming has given me so much in my life and Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic is a celebration of what different people at different levels have achieved within our sport.

“Learning to swim is an important life skill and with so many people achieving Kellogg’s ASA Awards every year, Kellogg’s Swimtastic highlights some of the heart-warming, courageous and motivational stories of the people involved.”

Katie Brazier, the ASA’s Sponsorship Director, said: “The ASA organises the Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards because it is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing achievements of people across all levels and areas of our sport.

“We know there are thousands of unsung swimming stars out there and so we are looking forward to receiving lots of nominations!”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s said: “Kellogg’s have been enthusiastic sponsors and supporters of swimming for over 10 years. Swimming is a great way for the whole family to stay active and spend quality time together. These swimming awards recognise those special people who have achieved a little more than the rest of us.”

The ten categories for Kellogg’s Swimtastic 2009 are…

Young Swimmer of the Year
Disability Swimmer of the Year
Family Swim Award
Senior Swimmer Award
Fundraising Award
RLSS Life Saver of the Year
Facility Operator Award
Community Project Award
Swim School Award
Top Teacher Award

To find out more about each award and to nominate someone who deserves recognition for their achievements CLICK HERE. Nominations close on 31st August 2009.

-ENDS-

For more information contact the ASA PR Manager Sharon Rose on 01509 632262, 07876 652318 or email sharon.rose@swimming.org

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Kellogg's
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg's has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg's ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Wear Valley District Council is the latest organisation to sign up to implement the ASA’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) at its two sites, Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex and Glenholme Leisure Complex.

The new five-year deal formalises the relationship with the national governing body and sees them working in partnership until 2014.

The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for learn to swim schemes, means the pools will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system.  The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.

The NPTS will run alongside the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit over 500 people that currently access swimming lessons at the two centres via busy swim school and schools programmes.

Angela Thompson, Swim Coordinator, said: “Giving young people more choice of ways to swim in the water encourages them to find something they like and is a great way of keeping them in the sport as they can go on to learn different and more complex activities. The Journey Through Aquatics Programme is based around play which makes learning to swim fun.

“We have approximately 550 children in our learn to swim scheme and the ASA’s wealth of knowledge in aquatics and access to their development team for the support and advice is invaluable for constantly improving our service to our customers.”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Kellogg’s has been working in partnership with the ASA since 1997, investing £1 million a year between 2006 and 2008. We’re passionate about promoting the ongoing benefits of physical activity and hope to break down barriers that prevent families from participating in swimming through the Kellogg’s Swim Active programme.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact the ASA Marketing Officer Esther Hope on 01509 632238, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Kellogg’s
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Brockworth Sports Centre has recently signed up to the ASA’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) and the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme.

The twelve-month deal indicated the centre’s commitment to teaching a high standard of swimming and to follow a scheme that allows teachers to be continually up to date with good practices.

Brockworth Sports Centre recently underwent major refurbishments and re-opened in February 2007. The Centre’s swim school was launched at the same time and now they provide lessons for almost 500 adults and children.

Nikki Williams, Swim School Coordinator for Brockworth Sports Centre said: “I think the ASA provides a variety of awards that have something for everyone. The National Plan for Teaching Swimming is a nationally recognised scheme which gives instructors, parents and children a clear framework in which to work from, whilst at the same time ensuring children’s learning is enhanced in a fun and stress free environment.”

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Kellogg’s has been working in partnership with the ASA since 1997, investing £1 million a year between 2006 and 2008. We’re passionate about promoting the ongoing benefits of physical activity and hope to break down barriers that prevent families from participating in swimming through the Kellogg’s Swim Active programme.”

-ENDS-

For further details contact Esther Hope, British Swimming Marketing Officer, on 01509 632247, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About Kellogg’s
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency.  Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money.  So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year.  To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.