East Midlands Awards Nomination Form 2026

The Club of the Year Award focuses on recognising clubs affiliated to Swim England who continually go above and beyond for their members, delivering exceptional activities in the pool and/or on dry land. This award focuses on clubs which create and foster the community spirit of aquatics.

 The nomination should highlight:

• How has the club delivered a great member experience at the core of its activities
• How has the club demonstrated commitment to supporting and developing volunteers
• How has the club demonstrated a commitment to engaging the wider community around it

Criteria:

• Must be an affiliated Swim England Club or a Section of an affiliated Club

This award recognises a young Swim England member whose activity and commitment, in any discipline, contributed to creating great experiences in aquatics and played a major role in supporting the aquatic sports in England. Their volunteering and passion will have made a positive impact, and this volunteer will be a great example of a role model for others.

The nomination should highlight:

• A volunteer who is passionate about creating great experiences for all those involved in aquatics
• A volunteer who has stepped forward to support the delivery of aquatic sports for club members
• A volunteer who has committed to their personal development
• A volunteer who has given their time to support event planning
• A volunteer who supports other volunteers to have a great experience

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must be actively volunteering on a regular basis
• Must be a minimum of 14 years old up to 25 years old
• If the role requires DBS, safeguarding and qualifications these are in place
• Must not be paid

This award recognises a Swim England member whose activity and commitment, in any discipline, contributed to creating great experiences in aquatics and played a major role in supporting the aquatic sports in England. Their volunteering and passion will have made a positive impact, and this volunteer will be a great example of a role model for others.

The nomination should highlight:

• A volunteer who is passionate about creating great experiences for all those involved in aquatics
• A volunteer who has stepped forward to support the delivery of aquatic sports for club members
• A volunteer who has committed to their personal development
• A volunteer who has given their time to support event planning
• A volunteer who supports other volunteers to have a great experience

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must be actively volunteering on a regular basis
• Must be a minimum of 14 years old
• If the role requires DBS, safeguarding and qualifications these are in place
• Must not be paid

For coaching people of all ages, shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a welcoming and safe environment for all participants. They will have been inclusive and enabled greater access to aquatics. Through coaching, people will have enjoyed being physically active through great relationships in water, leading to enhanced wellbeing.

The nomination should highlight:

• How has the coach created a welcoming environment
• How has the coach embedded inclusive environment
• How has the coach created enjoyment and enhanced wellbeing

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
• Hold a current DBS check suitable for their role and appropriate safeguarding certificate
• Must be coaching on a regular basis
• Can be any age

Age Group Coach of the Year award (for coaching children aged 10-16 years) shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a fun, positive and enjoyable learning environment – leading to high levels of participant retention and great experiences for each and every child through fostering a love for the sport.

The nomination should highlight:

• How has the coach created a fun, positive and enjoyable environment
• How has the coach created great experiences.
• How has the coach has met all the individual’s child’s needs

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
• Hold a current DBS check suitable for their role and appropriate safeguarding certificate
• Must be coaching on a regular basis
• Can be any age

The Talent Development Coach of the Year Award (coaching athletes on the national programme) shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a person-centred learning environment. The coach will have been compassionate and attentive to people needs, challenging and supporting athletes as individuals. Positive outcomes will have been achieved by coaching the athlete to be a better learner.

The nomination should highlight:

• How has the coach created a person-centred learning environment
• How has the coach has challenged and supported people
• How positive outcomes have been achieved

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
• Hold a current DBS check suitable for their role and appropriate safeguarding certificate
• Must be coaching on a regular basis
• Can be any age

This award recognises a Swim England Technical Official, of any discipline, whose contributions are seen as invaluable and whose efforts are instrumental in the work of supporting the delivery of aquatic sport through Technical Officiating. Their Officiating role(s) will be making a positive impact and this Official will be a great example of a role model for others.

The nomination should highlight:

• The activity of the nominee who has stepped forward to support the delivery of aquatic events at any level
• How the nominee has committed to their own personal development through training
• How the nominee has supports other Technical Officials in their training and development
• Examples of the nominee’s drive and passion for the sport has inspired others to become Technical Officials

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must hold a recognised Technical Official qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
• Must be Officiating on a regular basis
• Can be any age
• Must not be paid

This award recognises a volunteer, in any discipline, whose dedication and quiet service, often without

public recognition has made a significant difference to the club or an individual. These members often support roles in the background rather than visible roles. There is no recognition period for this award as long as the member is currently volunteering.

The nomination should highlight:

• Reliability of support
• The meaningful difference made to individuals or the club
• Contributes in ways that may be quiet but genuinely valuable
• Example of how the member has contributed to a supportive and inclusive environment

Criteria:

• Must be a Swim England member
• Must be actively volunteering on a regular basis
• Must be a minimum of 14 years old
• If the role requires DBS, safeguarding and qualifications these are in place
• Must not be paid

Unlike the other awards there isn’t a recognition time frame for this award and the details given within the nomination can span any period of time. The Awards are given to the individuals or organisations making the most outstanding contribution to aquatics at Club, County, Regional, National or International level.

In selecting the winners, consideration is given to:

• Outstanding achievement/contribution in advancing the sport through competition/coaching/officiating
• Outstanding achievement/contribution in the administration of the sport
• Outstanding achievement/contribution in advising the sport
• Outstanding achievement/contribution in the development of coaches and/or technical officials