FIVE years ago a small group of swimmers with Downs Syndrome started a swimming group, this was an exiting new partnership for Kirklees Active Leisure and Kirklees Council.

Five years on we are shouting thank you from the roof tops! The group has developed into The Borough of Kirklees Special Needs Swimming Club with swimmers with a range of disabilities entering national events.

We would not have been able to give the young swimmers the opportunity if is wasn't for parents support and funding opportunities throughout Kirklees.

Support continued from Kirklees Active Leisure with the use of the fantastic facilities and staff, Kirklees Council granted funding to assist insetting the group to competition level. Since then we have received sponsorship from Yorkshire Building Society, The Round Table and Holset Engineering, the Holset funding then became sports matched which is a government initiative to help increase sports participation.

The swimmers have reached levels we could never dream of and the excitement does not stop there. The funding has allowed Kirklees Active Leisure to host its first swimming gala for young people with a learning disability in the summer. Children from all over Kirkless will be invited to the event, and, you have guessed it, we will be looking for the next potential swimmers for 2007.

It would not have been possible for the team to enter such events or have the opportunities which are in the future without the support from all of the above, so we would like to thank you all for helping The Borough of Kirklees Special Needs what it is today.

Gemma Ripley

Coach