The Pentland Group started to support Panathlon in late 2018 with a three year agreement to create new swimming opportunities for over 5,000 Panathletes.
Additionally to the cash support, the Pentland Group who own the Speedo brand amongst others, also supported Panathlon with the supply of 5,000 silicone Speedo swim hats.
Panathlon has increased its aquatic provision in the last three years including new national finals at the Aquatic Centre in London for varying age groups including new finals for deaf and visually impaired swimmers. So far Panathlon have enabled over 3,000 swimmers, trained 639 Young Leaders and delivered 69 events nationwide.
This can be seen in this video here –
This support has helped create many more swimming opportunities and this can be highlighted how Panathlon for example has filled the void in provision for many in primary swimming
Staff from the Pentland Group have also visited to see the action for themselves, including Zoe Cokeliss-Barsley, Pentland’s Head of Environmental and Community Affairs, who witnessed the impact of the Panathlon aquatic programme by attending the National Final in June 2019.
Two Speedo employees, Jonny Higham and Georgia Hohmann, formed part of the team of volunteer leaders along with students from Richard Hale School in Hertford. Georgia (pictured right) is a two-time British and Commonwealth Youth swimmer, was inspired by her first glimpse of Panathlon in action.
“It’s crazy to call this a day’s work!” she said. “It’s been so much fun and to see the smiles on the kids’ faces and how determined and talented they are has been amazing.”
Read more about Pentland Group’s corporate responsibility priorities.
