A SUCCESSFUL swimming club is celebrating a fruitful relationship with Barclays Bank that has helped it grow and develop a competition-winning squad.

A scheme that matches pound-for-pound funds raised by bank employees who get involved in charity fundraising has helped Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club (NASC) raise almost £10,000 over the last five years.

Carol Gardner, who works in Barclays retail division and is based at its Bedale branch, has two daughters, Lucy, 11 and Gemma, 16, who have been keen swimmers with the club since they were small. Gemma is now a club captain.

Colleague Claire Atkinson, a member of the bank’s North-East agricultural team based in Northallerton, got involved with fundraising for the club last year when her daughter Olivia, 10, joined. She is now its competitions secretary.

Carol, who is also the club’s membership secretary, said: “Over the years, the bank’s generosity has helped us amass almost £7,000 for the swimming club, which has grown in that time from 60 or so members to a current figure of more than 120.

“Since Claire came on board too, last year we managed to secure £1,915 in matched funding from Barclays, which has made a massive difference to the club’s ability to grow and nurture our fantastic young swimmers.

Over the years the money raised, together with support from Hambleton District Council, the Lance Corporal Ben Hyde Memorial Trust and other sponsors and supporters, has enabled the swimming club to buy new starting blocks, anti-turbulence lane ropes, an electronic starter, storage facilities and various training aids, as well as extra coaching time to help bring on younger swimmers.

A development squad has also been created by head coach Greg Ient and his team to give swimmers the chance to reach their potential by providing additional training and support both in and out of the water and aid them in their drive for competitive success.

Various fundraising activities have been organised, including supermarket bag packs, prize draws and a glitzy awards presentation evening at The Forum in Northallerton at the end of last year to celebrate swimmers’ successes.

Claire Atkinson said: “We are delighted with the amount raised for Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club and would like to thank everyone who supported us to make this happen. Alongside our 5 Million Young Futures commitment, Barclays has a fantastic community investment programme that encourages employees to get involved in the causes we care about. It’s about giving back our skills, time and energy to support our local communities – so we’re thrilled to have raised this money.”

The investment and dedication by the 50-year-old club’s coaches, swimmers and their parents is paying off in the form of significant competition success, with a milestone win at its first league gala of the year, at Saltburn Leisure Centre in January.

Northallerton’s squad took the top spot in a Moors League gala – for the first time since 2006. A fantastic 24 out of the 40 swimmers who took part that day clocked up new personal bests as part of that event.

And the club’s youngest swimmers followed up this success a week later with a joint first place at the Moors League Junior Gala, for swimmers who are ten and under, at Redcar Community Heart. Ten-year-old Jacob Warwick, from Hurworth, broke a Moors League and NASC club record at the event, with a time of 17.89 seconds in the 25m backstroke.

In March, the squad finished second in the latest Moors League fixture, with 10-year-old Yasmin Marshall setting a new Moors record, also in the 25m backstroke, with a time of 17.89 seconds.

Club chairman Sam Davison, said: “All of the swimmers were race-prepared thanks to the investment in training and equipment in recent months. We’re extremely grateful for the generous support provided by Barclays – and all of our financial backers – over the years.”

* Companies or individuals interested in supporting the work of Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club can find out more at www.nasc.co.uk. The thriving club’s members train at the town’s Hambleton Leisure Centre on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday evenings.

For details of how to get involved, email nasc@nasc.co.uk or call 07861 806637.

Submitted by Gareth Dant