The annual awards bring the entirety of the aquatics community together to celebrate the individuals, groups and organisations for their outstanding contributions throughout the past 12 months. Activities that have taken place from July 2025 to the close of nominations are eligible for these awards.
For 2026, the awards have been revamped, with new categories, and a new pathway to the national awards. Winners of the regional awards will be longlisted for the national awards, taking place at the One Swim England Summit in March 2027.
Nominations are open until Sunday 13th September and you can nominate someone special today. The full criteria for each award can be viewed below. The regional awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 15th November, alongside the South East Club Development Conference.
The Club of the Year Award focuses on recognising clubs affiliated to Swim England who continually go above and beyond for their members, delivering exceptional activities in the pool and/or on dry land. This award focuses on clubs which create and foster the community spirit of aquatics.
This award is discipline specific – when nominating, please select the relevant discipline for the club (Artistic Swimming, Diving, Swimming inc. Para and Open Water, and Water Polo).
The nomination should highlight:
- How has the club delivered a great member experience at the core of its activities
- How has the club demonstrated commitment to supporting and developing volunteers
- How has the club demonstrated a commitment to engaging the wider community around it
Criteria:
- Must be an affiliated Swim England Club or a Section of an affiliated Club
This award recognises a Swim England member whose activity and commitment contributed to creating great experiences in aquatics and played a major role in supporting the aquatic sports in England. Their volunteering and passion will have made a positive impact, and this volunteer will be a great example of a role model for others.
The nomination should highlight:
- A volunteer who is passionate about creating great experiences for all those involved in aquatics
- A volunteer who has stepped forward to support the delivery of aquatic sports for club members
- A volunteer who has committed to their personal development
- A volunteer who has given their time to support event planning
- A volunteer who supports other volunteers to have a great experience
Criteria:
- Must be a Swim England member
- Must be actively volunteering on a regular basis
- Can be an event volunteer at County, Regional or National level
- Must be a minimum of 14 years old. Nominees aged 14 to 25 should be nominated for the Young Volunteer award. Nominees aged 26 and over should be nominated for the Volunteer award.
- Must not be paid
Please note, technical officials should be nominated in Swim England Technical Official of the Year award category.
The Participation and Community Coach of the Year Award (for coaching people of all ages) shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a welcoming and safe environment for all participants. They will have been inclusive and enabled greater access to aquatics. Through coaching, people will have enjoyed being physically active through great relationships in water, leading to enhanced wellbeing.
The nomination should highlight:
- How has the coach created a welcoming environment
- How has the coach embedded inclusive environment
- How has the coach created enjoyment and enhanced wellbeing
Criteria:
- Must be a Swim England member
- Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
- Hold a current enhanced DBS check and appropriate safeguarding certificate
- Must be coaching on a regular basis
- Can be any age
The Children/Age Group Coach of the Year award (for coaching children aged 10-16 years) shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a fun, positive and enjoyable learning environment – leading to high levels of participant retention and great experiences for each and every child through fostering a love for the sport.
The nomination should highlight:
- How has the coach created a fun, positive and enjoyable environment
- How has the coach created great experiences.
- How has the coach has met all the individual’s child’s needs
Criteria:
- Must be a Swim England member
- Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
- Hold a current enhanced DBS check and appropriate safeguarding certificate
- Must be coaching on a regular basis
- Can be any age
The Talent Development Coach of the Year Award (coaching athletes on the national programme) shall be awarded to a coach who has skilfully created a person-centred learning environment. The coach will have been compassionate and attentive to people needs, challenging and supporting athletes as individuals. Positive outcomes will have been achieved by coaching the athlete to be a better learner.
The nomination should highlight:
- How has the coach created a person-centred learning environment
- How has the coach has challenged and supported people
- How positive outcomes have been achieved
Criteria:
- Must be a Swim England member
- Must hold a recognised coaching qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
- Hold a current enhanced DBS check and appropriate safeguarding certificate
- Must be coaching on a regular basis
- Can be any age
This award recognises a Swim England Technical Official, of any discipline, whose contributions are seen as invaluable and whose efforts are instrumental in the work of supporting the delivery of aquatic sport through Technical Officiating.
Their Officiating role(s) will be making a positive impact and this Official will be a great example of a role model for others.
This award is discipline specific – when nominating, please select the relevant discipline for the club (Artistic Swimming, Diving, Swimming inc. Para and Open Water, and Water Polo).
The nomination should highlight:
- The activity of the nominee who has stepped forward to support the delivery of aquatic events at any level
- How the nominee has committed to their own personal development through training
- How the nominee has supports other Technical Officials in their training and development
- Examples of the nominee’s drive and passion for the sport has inspired others to become Technical Officials
Criteria:
- Must be a Swim England member
- Must hold a recognised Technical Official qualification or certification relevant to their role and activity
- Must be Officiating on a regular basis
- Can be any age
- Must not be paid
