Life-saving benefits of learning to swim highlighted by Buckie Amateur Swimming Club which has produced champion swimmers and teaches almost 100 youngsters in a fun environment through their thriving Thursday Club
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Teaching your child how to swim could be life saving, and Buckie Amateur Swimming Club is doing its bit for the community with a thriving programme for youngsters to hone their skills in the pool.
The club, supported by Buckie swimming pool since it opened in 1974, has produced champion swimmers over the years with current member Madison Coull (14) set to compete in the British Championships having become one of the top swimmers in Scotland for her age group.
But the main aim of BASC isn't to nurture the talents of the best swimmers in the community but to provide a platform for everyone to be able to swim.
Vice chair Colinne Scott said: "The whole idea of our learn to swim programme is make swimming affordable and fun.
"Every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim. It’s the only sport that could potentially save your child’s life. Being a coastal area it’s vital that local children can go the local baths for a dook.
"Swimming is a great, healthy hobby for all ages."
While BASC is a competitive club regularly taking part on swimming galas across the country and on the national scene, it has forged close links with it's sister club - the Thursday Club, or T Club.
Not only does it operate as a learn-to-swim group but it also operates as a support for young adults who volunteer each week as helpers, many going on to gaining swimming teaching qualifications through the club's system.
"It is taking them into adulthood with a qualification and life skills ready for the world of work," explained Colinne, who is also chairperson of the T Club.
Funds raised by the T Club team helped to pay for a custom-designed kit for Buckie Amateur Swimming Club members to wear at competitions, with the youngsters proudly displaying their new merchandise this week.
Colinne said that the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected the club, and she was seeing more and more older children who are unable to swim.
Now demand is high for the club's learn-to-swim services, so much so that a waiting list has been set up to cater for families in Buckie and the surrounding area.
"At the moment we host lessons every Thursday for 96 children ranging from age 4 to 12," she said.
"We don’t offer one-to-one sessions but do and can provide lots of support for any extra-nervous children that the council programme can’t offer.
"We have a brilliant relationship with the staff at the pool and I’m sure they would agree that we are a big support to them too, as their waiting list is huge also.
"We have had to close ours for now as demand is so high."
The Thursday Club is a not-for-profit organisation that charges families a low fee to give children aged four and over a place to learn and be taught by qualified teachers.
"Any monies are used to pay for teacher training, expenses and supporting our sister club, BASC in their financial status.
"Funds from T Club is used to benefit all club members and we recently help fund the club’s new kit and diving blocks, which are regularly used by the public."
The Thursday Club members are also offered an opportunity to try what they call the 'transition lane', where they are introduced to some of the more difficult training sessions offered to competitive BASC members.
"The transition lane allows children and parents to see an insight to what being involved in the training programme entails - the volume of expected commitment, the rules of swimming, with the idea being that they can see before becoming a BASC member.
"To qualify for the transition lane. children need to be age seven and up, have completed at least a block in T Club’s length programme and have a good grasp of all four strokes.
"Once our qualified coaches feel they are ready to train, we will invite them to become members of Buckie Amateur Swimming Club.
"The children can’t start competing until they are eight years old. From here they attend galas, get accreditation times to allow them to swim at higher end meets.
"This means going on to district level and for some championships and beyond from qualifying for SNAGS (Scottish National Age Group Swimming) to international meets. Our swimmers have been putting Buckie’s name on the map."
A shining example is Buckie High pupil Madison Coull, who has come through the ranks at BASC to become the first Buckie swimmer to qualify for the British Championships.
"She made the final and currently sits as one of Scotland’s top swimmers in her age group. She has since this been invited to attend the Scottish Youth Academy," Colinne revelaed.
"We also have three of our swimmers who have qualifying times for the winter short course - such a great achievement for a small club ran by volunteers."
Buckie Amateur Swimming Club runs six days a week, with children taught by qualified volunteer coaches and parents or ex-swimmers.
Current membership stands at 30, aged between 7 and 19 with a further six children taking part in the transition lane and another dozen on the waiting list.
For more information on BASC's Thursday Club, email tclubbuckie@gmail.com or contact the club through Facebook.
