Amy Kordiak 's Entries

• 28 Sep 2021
  Celebrating 40 years of beavering away

  Photo: Chris Economides & Mai Marley    A few weeks back, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting one of the Localgiving groups in Wales, Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming club. The purpose of the visit was to hear more about the club’s fundraising aims, the amazing work it does in the community and to help the team make the most of its Localgiving account. Barry Beavers was founded 40 years ago and provides qualified instruction using the Halliwick Concept in reaching swimming therapy to disabled swimmers of all ages and disabilities. The club is certainly making a huge impact in the community as it continues to grow and it now has a team of 20+ volunteers and 75 swimmers. Therefore it has been essential that Barry Beavers has had success with its online fundraising to ensure its future financial sustainability. The club joined Localgiving in 2017 and so far has benefitted from four Magic Little Grants and ongoing fundraising support. It has used its main project page for regular donations and has benefitted from support from the Wales Programme; to set up crowdfunding appeals which have attracted match funding.  Barry Beavers Chair, Chris Economides, showed enormous pride and passion when he spoke about why the club is so successful “to put it simply, everyone gets along so well. We welcome all disabled swimmers into our community and our two main aims are simple: water safety and happiness. Swimmers can attend the club for leisure, fun; to compete in the galas or a combination of all those things and one of the huge benefits swimmers get is the strong sense of belonging and to feel connected during these uncertain and often isolating times is so important”. One of the trustees, Mai Marley added “getting together during Covid-19 has been tough but we have come back stronger. The people involved are gorgeous and I have made many friends having been here since 2017. Gala days are the best days ever as competitions are a great way of building people’s self-esteem and we have a lot of fun along the way!” The club incorporates fun and games into their lessons so that everyone feels included and can benefit from being in the water. The lessons are open to all children and adults in the area who have a disability or long-term health condition and alongside the swim sessions, water therapy is also offered. When asked about the support the club has received from Localgiving, Chris said: “Localgiving has proved a great benefit to Barry Beavers. The staff at Localgiving are always available to give help and advice on funding initiatives. Barry Beavers has been able to receive substantial funding due to our membership – it is well worth joining”. Barry Beavers is just one of the 450 not for profit groups that Localgiving has supported in Wales benefitting from: a year’s free membership, grants, match funding and mentoring in how to crowdfund. If your group is in Wales and would like free, digital fundraising advice, please email: amy@localgiving.org. To find out more about Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming club, to offer some time as a volunteer or to make a donation to the club, click here.

  8242 Posted by Amy Kordiak
• By Amy Kordiak

  Celebrating 40 years of beavering away

  Photo: Chris Economides & Mai Marley    A few weeks back, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting one of the Localgiving groups in Wales, Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming club. The purpose of the visit was to hear more about the club’s fundraising aims, the amazing work it does in the community and to help the team make the most of its Localgiving account. Barry Beavers was founded 40 years ago and provides qualified instruction using the Halliwick Concept in reaching swimming therapy to disabled swimmers of all ages and disabilities. The club is certainly making a huge impact in the community as it continues to grow and it now has a team of 20+ volunteers and 75 swimmers. Therefore it has been essential that Barry Beavers has had success with its online fundraising to ensure its future financial sustainability. The club joined Localgiving in 2017 and so far has benefitted from four Magic Little Grants and ongoing fundraising support. It has used its main project page for regular donations and has benefitted from support from the Wales Programme; to set up crowdfunding appeals which have attracted match funding.  Barry Beavers Chair, Chris Economides, showed enormous pride and passion when he spoke about why the club is so successful “to put it simply, everyone gets along so well. We welcome all disabled swimmers into our community and our two main aims are simple: water safety and happiness. Swimmers can attend the club for leisure, fun; to compete in the galas or a combination of all those things and one of the huge benefits swimmers get is the strong sense of belonging and to feel connected during these uncertain and often isolating times is so important”. One of the trustees, Mai Marley added “getting together during Covid-19 has been tough but we have come back stronger. The people involved are gorgeous and I have made many friends having been here since 2017. Gala days are the best days ever as competitions are a great way of building people’s self-esteem and we have a lot of fun along the way!” The club incorporates fun and games into their lessons so that everyone feels included and can benefit from being in the water. The lessons are open to all children and adults in the area who have a disability or long-term health condition and alongside the swim sessions, water therapy is also offered. When asked about the support the club has received from Localgiving, Chris said: “Localgiving has proved a great benefit to Barry Beavers. The staff at Localgiving are always available to give help and advice on funding initiatives. Barry Beavers has been able to receive substantial funding due to our membership – it is well worth joining”. Barry Beavers is just one of the 450 not for profit groups that Localgiving has supported in Wales benefitting from: a year’s free membership, grants, match funding and mentoring in how to crowdfund. If your group is in Wales and would like free, digital fundraising advice, please email: amy@localgiving.org. To find out more about Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming club, to offer some time as a volunteer or to make a donation to the club, click here.

  Sep 28, 2021 8242