Local teachers leading the way for next generation
TWO YOUNG women with Down Syndrome from South Ayrshire are leading the way for swimmers of all abilities by sharing their passion for swimming this World Down Syndrome Day (21 March).
Laura Logan, 30, and Cerys McCrindle, 22, both from South Ayrshire are competing in the 11th World Down Syndrome Swimming & Artistic Championships in Antalya, Turkey from 21st – 26th March 2024.
Laura and Cerys are both employed part-time with South Ayrshire Council to teach Learn to Swim lessons, playing an important role in helping children to learn this vital life skill.
Alongside being Learn to Swim teachers, both Laura and Cerys swim competitively with the South Ayrshire Swim Team (SAST), and Down Syndrome Swimming Great Britain (DSSGB), two of only four Scottish athletes in the team.
Driven by their passion to show that anyone of any ability can swim, they coach a variety of lessons at the Prestwick and Citadel swimming pools, and help play a vital role in creating ‘Generation Swim’ through delivering Learn to Swim lessons to over 50 children a week.
Laura, who celebrates her 30th birthday on World Down Syndrome Day, has been competing since the age of 12. Laura’s swim journey began in parent and child classes before progressing through the Learn to Swim programme and Club Ready. She then joined the Kilmarnock Jets and the SAST Para squad when it was first established in 2013.
Laura said: “Being able to teach swimming lessons to so many children is great, I love passing on my knowledge to them and watching them grow in confidence as they learn new skills.”
On 8th March 2024, Laura was proud to accept the West of Scotland Disability Athlete of the Year Award, supported by her Mum, Betty, who coaches with the SAST Para Squad and Team DSSGB.
Cerys took part in Learn to Swim lessons from a young age and has been competing since she was 11.
Cerys said: “I love swimming, I always have. I’ve been able to travel all over the world through my competitions. Being a swim teacher is great, I get to teach kids how to be safe in the water, as well as creating lesson plans.
“I became a swim teacher to pass on my knowledge and help other people feel confident in the water. Most importantly I want those I’m teaching to feel like they can just be themselves. Teaching is so much fun and so rewarding, I would encourage anyone to get involved.”
The Learn to Swim National Framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water which is delivered by 38 aquatic providers across Scotland in more than 160 pools – is focused on inspiring inclusivity through its #SeeMyAbility campaign, encouraging people of all abilities to take part in mainstream swimming lessons.
The Learn to Swim programme is open to everyone regardless of disability or skills levels, with the partnership committed to creating a supportive environment for all to learn and teach swimming.
Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “Teaching others to swim is one of the most fulfilling careers, imparting a critical life skill. It’s inspiring to see instructors like Cerys and Laura share their passion while providing essential lessons.
“Having such inspirational teachers makes lessons such an enjoyable experience for kids, teachers and parents.
“Cerys and Laura continue to show that anyone can enjoy swimming, we’re extremely proud to have them representing Great Britain in Turkey this week.”
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs with Scottish Water, said: “It’s great to hear about swim teachers like Laura and Cerys, they exemplify the values of Learn to Swim in helping to build inclusive, welcoming and supportive environments where children of all ages and abilities can thrive, get active and learn and enjoy swimming in a safe way.
“The enthusiastic, dedicated teachers, like Laura and Cerys, delivering swim lessons all across Scotland play such an important role in inspiring and developing the next generation of safe and competent swimmers.
“Becoming a swim teacher is an amazing opportunity for people to make a difference and be part of creating a meaningful legacy for Scotland to help children be safe in and around water.”
The Learn to Swim Framework helps to create quality Learn to Swim environments for children from birth upwards where they can learn the vital skills to become safe and competent swimmers, and also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer as they progress through the aquatic pathway.
South Ayrshire Council pride itself in providing a supportive environment for teachers like Cerys and Laura to develop their skills and offer a wide range of opportunities for training, supporting, and employing swimming teachers.
Scottish Swimming support National Framework partners to develop their teachers with regular continued professional development and access to resources to help with their lesson delivery.
Those looking to become a swim teacher will be put through the Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ) which is the industry standard for those who wish to teach unsupervised to groups of swimmers with a range of abilities and is essential for seeking employment as a swimming teacher.
Learn to Swim aims to build a real legacy for Scotland – creating “Generation Swim” by improving water safety and giving all children a real platform for success to achieve their full potential both in the pool and out.
The National Learn to Swim Framework has already provided lessons to more than 100,000 youngsters, and aims to reach another 100,000 by 2025.
For more information on the Learn to Swim programme, visit https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim
