Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club have just been awarded Swim21 Accreditation by swimming's governing body the ASA and is one of just a few swimming clubs in the County to achieve accreditation.

Accreditation means that Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club is awarded Sport England's ‘Clubmark' ensuring equal status with other sports clubs and recognition from key agencies.

Swim21 is the Amateur Swimming Association's ‘Club Development' programme, clubs which go through the process are now starting to reap the rewards in training opportunities and ASA support.

Swim21 was set up by the ASA in 1999 and is a tool for clubs to help swimmers, teachers / coaches and administrators achieve their full potential. In the South West over 110 clubs have signed up for Swim21 and nationally more than half of the affiliated ASA swimming clubs are involved.

The scheme is particularly focused on the needs of swimmers and strives to provide them with the best possible environment in which to develop.  It is the backbone of the ASA's development programme.  The more a club puts into the process the more it will get out of it.

Swim21 is focused around 4 key areas;

• Swimmer Development
• Teacher / Coach Education and Development
• Club Management
• Partnerships

Local MP Martin Horwood  a supporter of the Club was present at the presentation of the award to Club Chair Julie Hughes. Martin said; "I am delighted that Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club have achieved Swim21 accreditation, in recognition of the continuous improvements they have made. The Cub is run by an ambitious and go ahead committee, who have grasped Swim21 with both hands.  Gaining this award recognizes the top quality training opportunities the club provides for the town's young people.''

 Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club has spent the last year working through an auditing and action planning process, the collection of evidence which was submitted and assessed by the Western Counties ASA District Panel, including representatives of Sport England.

Beth Mayman, ASA Regional Development Officer for the South West, who has worked with the club through to accreditation said; "Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club has established itself as a quality provider of swimming. This achievement builds on the dedicated work that they have been doing over recent years. The aim is to get every ASA affiliated club at least signed up to the programme by 2006. Accreditation for clubs such as Cheltenham involves lots of hard work and while there are no quick fix solutions the rewards are potentially fantastic."

Further details about Swin 21 can be obtained at the Amateur Swimming Association Swim 21 site