Swimarathon 2012: Awards made to youth beneficiaries total £57,500

James Qualtrough | May 10, 2012 | 0 Comments

Youth groups as diverse as a sailing trust and a project that empowers young people to make positive choices in life and love were among the 23 beneficiaries of this year’s Swimarathon. They were presented with their funding by the Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl, at a special ceremony in the Great Hall of Highlands College on Tuesday [8th May].

This year, Swimarathon organisers, the Lions Club of Jersey, invited youth projects and organisations in the Island to apply for funding donations in tribute to the late Hannah Johnson, the Young Ambassador for the Lions Club of Jersey and a finalist for the Young Ambassador of the 21st Century European Award.

Lion Mike Labey, President of the Lions Club, said: ‘In the presence of the Lieutenant-Governor, we are delighted to be handing over £2,500 to each of the 2012 Swimarathon beneficiaries. It makes us very proud to be awarding valuable funding to these inspirational projects which will benefit young people in Jersey.’

Grands Vaux Youth Centre will be using its Swimarathon donation towards a significant renewal of the club facilities. Senior Youth Worker Tino Perestrelo said: ‘The money we have received will enable us to complete the redevelopment of the games room. It will give our young people an additional social area to use while the popular structured sessions are running, enabling us to maintain a diverse range of activities and structured support.’

The Swimarathon’s sponsors, RBC Wealth Management, boost the fundraising each year in the form of a per-lap donation. Internal Communications Director Rob Briggs, who attended the presentation, said: ‘We are delighted to continue our support of the Swimarathon. The ceremony was a great demonstration of how the money raised by Islanders makes a real difference to the lives of people in the community.’

The Swimarathon took place at the Les Quennevais Sports Centre from 7 to 11 March when around 4,000 of Jersey’s swimmers raised £141,000.

This year marked the first Swimarathon for Sir John. Both he and Lady McColl took to the water with the team from Government House.

The 23 beneficiaries of the 2012 Swimarathon are:

Centre Point Trust
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
Girlguiding Jersey
Gorey Youth Club
Grands Vaux Youth Centre
Jersey Scout Association
Jersey Sea Cadets Corps
Jersey Youth Trust/YES Project
La Motte Street Youth Centre
La Pouquelaye Youth Centre
Le Squez Youth Club
Love Matters
Maufant Variety Youth Centre
Move On Youth Project
St Brelade’s Youth Club
St John Ambulance Jersey
St John’s Youth Club
St Mary’s Youth Club
St Ouen’s Youth Centre
St Peter’s Youth Club
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Activities Base
Trinity Sailing Trust
Trinity Youth Club