We were so excited to hear about the amazing success of one of the young people using our Community Connections service, who took on swimming the channel with his relay team!

14 year old ‘J’ started at a new school in 2021 and was invited to do a swimming trial. J had only ever swum a few lengths in his local pool before this, but along with 5 other young people he signed up to swim the English Channel!

Community Connections funds helped to make this happen, allowing J to take part in swim camps and have lessons with a professional swimming coach to perfect his stroke, and even to give him experience of a swim at night in open water.

After a disappointing delay due to poor weather, J and his school friends finally set off in the early hours of 7th July. Each swimmer swam for an hour before resting and going again, with plenty of feeling sea sick and nasty jelly fish stings along the way!

Just 12 hours and 13 minutes after leaving Dover, J and his school friends touched the shore of France raising an amazing £42,000 for their chosen charity, Mencap.

J’s mum said,
“…wherever life takes him, to know that he swam the English Channel to raise money for others, like himself, is something that he can always be incredibly proud of. Something that was possible only with the support of his school and Disability Positive. Thank you from our family for the work you do in supporting children like J to have a brighter future.”

Our Community Connections Service gives children and young people aged 0-18 the opportunity to take part in a local activity of their choice, while also giving parents or carers a break from their caring responsibilities.

Find our more about Community Connections here:
https://disabilitypositive.org/ser…/community-connections/