STA has teamed up with UK Deaf Sport and GLL, and has secured two British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for an STA Award in Teaching Swimming course that is being held at The Royal Greenwich Centre in London from the 18th of June.

Kaylë Brightwell, STA’s Director of Education, explains: “We understand that the costs involved in hiring interpreters can be a barrier for some training providers; therefore in response, to help provide more accessible learning opportunities for the deaf community, we are using our charity funds so that two BSL interpreters can attend an Award course in London.”

As part of the process, STA reached out to UK Deaf Sport, the National Governing Body for Deaf Sport, who work to ensure that deaf children, young people, and adults have equal opportunities to participate and excel in sport and physical activity as their hearing counterparts from grassroots to elite level.

“UK Deaf Sport has been incredibly supportive,” said Kayle. “And, with GLL as the ATC, they will be helping to raise awareness about this swimming teaching course to a wider deaf community and encourage participation – this supports all of our aims in promoting inclusive workforce opportunities in aquatics for all.”

Shannon Howarth, UK Deaf Sport’s Partnerships Manager for Participation said; “UK Deaf Sport is delighted to be supporting the STA to deliver the STA Award in Teaching Swimming course with British Sign Language interpretation. UK Deaf Sport believes it is important for the deaf community to be represented within the sport and physical activity workforce and are proactively looking to work with awarding organisations to ensure that qualifications are accessible to the whole deaf community.”

Kaylë added: “By breaking down barriers in training, we can start to help more deaf swimming teachers become role models on the poolside; and in turn, they will inspire more people from the deaf community to engage in swimming lessons, learn a key life skill and gain all the associated physical and mental health benefits.”

As an education charity and a national governing body for swimming, STA strongly believes in giving everyone of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities the opportunity to excel in the aquatics workforce.

“As an inclusive employer and ATC, GLL are thrilled to be delivering this STA Award in Teaching Swimming course in Greenwich, with British Sign Language Interpreters. We feel it is important that the teaching workforce is representative of our local communities and to achieve this we need teachers on the poolside that reflect our diversity. Teaching and learning to swim is a very rewarding journey and should be open to all.”

Emma Lewis, National Aquatics Manager – GLL

Click here for further information on the BSL-interpreted STA Award in Teaching Swimming course on the 18th June