Following a comprehensive review of SwimMark, Swim England North East is in support of Swim England’s decision to pause SwimMark submissions until further notice. This decision, made in close consultation with regional partners, marks a positive shift towards streamlining processes for clubs and refocusing resources to better serve the needs of our members.

Acknowledging Clubs’ Commitment and Safety and Enjoyment

Firstly, we would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to all clubs for their dedication efforts in creating safe, enjoyable environments for all members. Your commitment is vital, and we remain deeply appreciative of the time and care you put into upholding Swim England’s standards of safety, inclusivity, and community spirit.

Club Affiliation to Remain as Compliance Tool

It is important to note that while SwimMark submissions are being suspended, Club Affiliation remains mandatory for all clubs. This ensures that key compliance elements are consistently met across all affiliated clubs, maintaining a high standard across Swim England and Regional levels.

Club Affiliation serves as a streamlined yet robust tool for accountability, allowing clubs to uphold essential practices without the additional administrative workload associated with SwimMark. All clubs will still be required to meet these compliance standards to retain affiliation, and we appreciate your continued cooperation in this process.

To read more about Club Affiliation, please click here.

Insights from the SwimMark Review and Path Forward

The decision to suspend SwimMark came after valuable feedback collected through the Swim England Values and Visions Roadshows and the recent Listening Report. Clubs have expressed that, over time, SwimMark had evolved more into a compliance-focused initiative rather than a development-orientated resource.

With these insights in mind, Swim England and the Regions have collectively decided to pause any new SwimMark submissions after 1st November 2024. This suspension provides an opportunity to revisit and redesign the SwimMark framework, aligning it more closely with the developmental needs and growth aspirations of our clubs. By taking this approach, we hope to lessen the administrative demands placed on our dedicated volunteers, enabling clubs to focus more on their core activities and member engagement.

Next Steps for Clubs

To support clubs through this transition, we have outlined the next steps to ensure clarity:

Read the FAQs
- Swim England have developed an FAQ document addressing common questions and offering guidance on the new SwimMark suspension. For example, clubs are still permitted to use the SwimMark logo until notified otherwise.
- To view the full FAQs, please click here.
Complete Your Club Affiliation Renewal
- Clubs previously engaged in SwimMark will now only need to renew their Club Affiliation when their SwimMark certification is due for renewal.
- This step is essential to maintain your club’s affiliation with Swim England and your respective region.
Stay Informed About Ongoing Changes
- Swim England, together with our Regional team, is committed to keeping you updated with any future changes.
- You will continue to receive support from both Swim England and Swim England North East, ensuring smooth transitions and compliance throughout this process.

Our Commitment to Supporting Clubs

Swim England North East remains dedicated to supporting all our clubs and members as we embark on this new chapter. By focusing on Club Affiliation, we aim to better align with our shared vision of a thriving, well-supported community.

We understand this shift may raise questions, and we encourage all club representatives to review the FAQs and reach out with any specific concerns to swimnortheast@swimming.org. Read more on the Swim England website here.

Together, we are building a future where clubs can operate more effectively, with less administrative strain, while continuing to provide safe, enjoyable, and growth-focused experiences for all members.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to continuing this journey of improvement and collaboration with you all.