The Swim For Life and Top Energy WaterSafe Programmes are delivered in over 75 schools involving over 8,500 students Northland wider. Several of the instructors employed during the season also teach swimming at local swimming clubs providing a useful school club link opportunity.

Several of the Northland Swim For Life Instructors have had a number of students ask how they could access the local swimming clubs - these swimmers have enjoyed the water safety sessions and wanted to improve their strokes for future interschool swimming competitions. One such example is Instructor Gail McGunnigle-Farr who also instructs at Whangarei Amateur Swimming Club being approached by Whangarei Intermediate School students who were keen to improve their skills where Gail was able to link them to the club.

Community Recreation Manager Janine Moy, who is the relationship manager with Swimming Northland says “it’s useful having the person who delivers or coaches the programme at the local club also delivering in the local school as they develop a rapport with the students and the students tend to feel more comfortable when crossing over and joining the club. Having that familiar face in the club goes a long way”.

All Northland swimming clubs are promoted via the Northland Swim For Life newsletters that go out during the season to promote swimming beyond school lessons and all instructors are armed with information on local clubs so they can pass on information to keen students.