A SWIMMING club has warned it could shut down – unless it raises the necessary funds to keep it going.

A knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic has been the impact on the leisure industry with the coffers of the Witney and District Swimming Club hit hard.

Normally, the club, for six to 18-year-olds, would hold competitions, raffles and galas, all of which would boost financial resources.

Meanwhile, the increase of pool fees and restrictions on the number of swimmers allowed in the pool has also impacted the club.

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With the club fighting for its future, an online fundraiser has been launched to help it in 2021.

Chantal Clavaud, head coach at the club for 10 years, said: “If we were to get to July in the current situation we’re in, then we’d have to shut down.

“We knew we needed £10,000 to get us through to July and we don’t know how long this is going to go on for so the more money we raise, the longer we can survive and the more secure we’ll be.

“Normally, our squad fees would cover the costs of the pool hire, but the number of children in the pool has gone down.

“A lot of clubs we know of have had similar problems and the leisure industry as a whole has been struggling.”

The year actually began on a positive note for the club, however the pandemic has struck hard.

“Our swimming season runs from August to August and we’d had a really, really good county championships in February,” said Miss Clavaud.

“We started off the year really successful – one of our swimmers was going to go to Olympic trials in April – then everything got shut down in March.

“From riding a successful wave, we then lost everything.

“When we launched the Crowdfunder, a lot of former students and swimmers started donating – the club has been a massive part of people’s lives – swimming is a sport for life and people don’t want to see the club fold.”

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Despite the impact of Covid-19, the club introduced 28 new members in October, taking its total to 150 swimmers, with money raised set to support this growth.

Meanwhile, the club has recorded no cases of coronavirus.

Indeed, the World Health Organisation says ‘swimming in a well-maintained, properly chlorinated pool is safe’.

Helen Clear, a parent whose daughter is a swimmer at the club, highlighted the importance of the club in the town.

She said: “The club has been an institution for 45 years and thousands of children have benefited over the years.

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“We’ve realised just how important swimming is to our daughter’s mental health, it’s so good for her wellbeing.

“We’re quite a small club, punching above our weight, we’re a bit David and Goliath.

“The club offers a Covid-secure set-up with social distancing and fewer swimmers in the pool.”

Witney District and Swimming Club is based at Windrush Leisure Centre, but also trains at Carterton Leisure Centre, and has tis year used facilities at RAF Brize Norton.

The online fundraiser has so raised almost £10,000.

To find out more and donate, please visit the Crowdfunder here.

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