I organise, set up and run events for school age children with disabilities and special educational needs. Building close relationships with multiple schools and SGOs, leisure centre managements, NGBs, stakeholders, sponsors and of course the young students themselves. Mainly swimming galas of different types of races, but also team activities in sport halls, Boccia and Ten Pin bowling. With the swimming galas, the children are taught team work, hand/eye co-ordination, how to follow instruction and health and safety in a fun environment. It gives them the opportunity to experience going out in public, sometimes using public transport, and engaging with shop workers by spending money when ordering food or a ticket. Fantastic life skills. A lot of the young students have not been swimming before attending a gala, so coming to a Panathlon event gives them an opportunity to find their water wings in a safe and fun environment. Volunteer leaders from local schools help run the event by being enthusiastic support in the pool, whilst others work stop watches and organise the swimmers for the next race. “***Panathlon is a national charity which gives young people with disabilities and special educational needs every year the opportunity to take part in competitive sport. In 2022/23, a record 62,981 pupils participated in our events - either competitions held externally with other schools or in-school through our Virtual Programme.***”

Volunteer working with all SEER clubs that offer water polo. Both for fun and competition. For junior and/or adults. Ensuring the clubs meet the requirements set to run water polo sessions, engage with volunteers to attend the correct training and work with SEER to run regional academy training sessions, arrange and organise competitions and enter Regional teams into national competitions. Representing the Region on the Swim England Leadership Group and sitting on the new competition sub group.

Working with the County to promote water polo and support the clubs that do offer it. Work with the Swim England East Region to pass on all relevant information to Essex clubs. Developing new coaches to experience taking teams to Inter County competitions.

Supporting swimming clubs and their volunteers across all disciplines to offer the best possible environment to current and future athletes.Support with governance and fundraising.

ASA FUNdamentals Coach of the Year. East Region.Voluntarily coach at the club to put back in to the sport and community that it has so kindly given me over the years.Coached the under 12s, under 18s and senior Water Polo teams in many local leagues and tournaments.Set up a school-club link to introduce kids from local schools in to a healthier lifestyle.Organised club affairs so that there were communication between the parents of the swimmers/players and the club.Coached a SWIMFIT session once a week at Riverside LC where we offer classes for non swimmers through to ex competitive swimmers. Work on individual stroke technique and stamina so that everyone got the best possible swimming workout. Lessons devised to suit and maximise the time in the pool.

Honorary position for services to County aquatics over the passed 25 years. I’ll be attending competitions and meetings, representing Swim England Essex County anywhere Essex County or swimming clubs affiliated to Essex are competing in all aquatic disciplines.

Working towards the U19 Junior Men LEN European Water Polo Qualifiers.

Supporting swimming clubs and their volunteers across all disciplines to offer the best possible environment to current and future athletes.Support with governance and fundraising

Go between for fellow students in the Science and Tech faculty and Anglia Ruskin University and their lecturers. Help students by bringing issues that need to be resolved to the attention of the university.

This is another voluntary scheme I've helped set up in Chelmsford and is the first disabled Water Polo club in the Country.We cater for all disabilities and have qualified and CRB people helping with the coaching.We are constantly looking for new members to join and for local busineses to sponsor us so that costs can be kept as low as possible.I'm hoping that other disabled swimming clubs approach me so that I can help them set up a simular club so there can be competitive matches for the kids and adults that are already enjoying this new team sport that has been made available to them.Working closely with Norman Leighton at British Swimming and the ASA to introduce this concept nationwide at swimming clubs to increase membership and offer those that are in need a route into aquatics.

Over the 14 years I learnt all the skills needed to tile/slate a roof using many different products and methods and I completed the NVQ Level 2 roof slating and tiling. Working with many people with different job roles within the Construction Industry to get the job completed.Donald Roofing is growing from strength to strength and I recommend Andrew and his team of roof tilers for all your roofing requiremnts, be it a repair to a new roof.