Chippenham Cares

Improving Access to Sport for All

At Chippenham ASC, inclusion sits at the heart of everything we do. We believe every young person—regardless of background, family circumstance, or gender—should have the opportunity to take part in swimming, develop their potential, and feel fully supported on their sporting journey.


Chippenham Cares is a new initiative designed to remove financial barriers that prevent swimmers from accessing or progressing within our club. Through external sponsorship and community support, this fund will help ensure that every swimmer has the chance to thrive.

Aims

1. Support Swimmers Facing Financial Hardship 

Many families experience financial challenges that can limit access to regular training or competition opportunities. Chippenham Cares will provide targeted subsidies for swimmers who:   
  •  Live in areas identified as being within the 10–20% most deprived nationally or locally   
  • Are from households eligible for financial support such as free school meals or means-tested benefits    
This funding helps reduce monthly training fees, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to joining or remaining in the club.

2. Reduce the Burden on Large Families

Large families can face significant cumulative costs when multiple children wish to train and compete. To support these swimmers, the fund aims to:   
  • Offer discounts to families with three or more swimmers training at the club   
  • Ensure that family size does not limit the opportunity for children to participate or progress    
This reflects our belief that no child should miss out because they have siblings who share the same passion.

3. Promote Gender Equity in Competitive Swimming 

Female swimmers face a well-known financial disparity when purchasing high-performance race suits, which are significantly more expensive than male equivalents. To address this inequality, Chippenham Cares introduces:   
  • A Tech Suit Grant for female swimmers aged 14+ who achieve regional qualification  
  • Financial support toward the cost of appropriate racewear, awarded every 2–5 years depending on age  
This initiative ensures our female athletes can compete on a level playing field.

Why This Matters

Access to sport should never depend on a family’s financial position. Swimming supports physical health, mental wellbeing, and personal development—but too often, costs create unfair barriers. 

Chippenham Cares exists to: 

  • Increase inclusivity across our club 
  • Support sustained participation for all young people 
  • Reduce inequalities in access and performance 
  • Create a club community that reflects and supports the whole of Chippenham

How the Fund Works

The fund is initially being supported by Chippenham ASC for the first 6 months after which we aspire for it to be funded by local businesses sponsorship, community donors, and supportive partners. 

Funding is distributed based on priority need, ensuring investment has the greatest impact. Priority order: 

  1. Swimmers with the greatest social and economic need 
  2. Large families with multiple swimmers 
  3. Female swimmers requiring support for race suits 

100% of contributions go directly to supporting young people.

Join Us in Making Swimming Accessible for Everyone

Chippenham Cares is about more than funding—it’s about building a fair, supportive and inclusive environment where every swimmer can achieve their best. 

 If you’re a local business, community supporter or partner who shares our vision, we’d love to work with you. 

Together, we can remove barriers, open doors, and make sport accessible for all.

If You Are a Swimmer

If you are already a Chippenham ASC swimmer and would like to find out more about how the funding works please follow this link or email the treasurer: [email protected]

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