July 9th
This post is aimed at our older swimmers… definitely worth a look!
Mary
July 9th
This post is aimed at our older swimmers… definitely worth a look!
Mary
July 4th
Speechless!
Very well done to all 27 life savers who attended last night's session! You were thoroughly outstanding in every way - especially how you tackle everything that is thrown your way!
A very special well done must go to Lane 2 this week - 100% attendance, effort, commitment and self-belief, along with 100% pass at Rookie Gold 1. This award was always going to be a challenge for some - with a 400m continuous swim as part of the assessment - but, did this bother Lane 2?... it did NOT! Congratulations to:
Nancy, Emily, Alice, William, John, Kaleb, Mollie, Molly, Millie, Miles, Amelia and John! Certificates, Badges and Stickers will be presented in reception after the session, along with end of term reports - so all parents/carers are warmly invited to share in your child's success. On to Gold 2 next week! A special well done to William - who has 100% attendance since we moved into Lane 2 on 37/3/26.
Well done, also to 11 swimmers from Lanes 3/4 who attended the First Aid, asthma, choking and fractures session in the Studio last night. Pending one or two catch-up assessments, you should achieve your NLA Bronze Star Awards on Friday 10th or 17th July, and they will be very well deserved. Catch-up activities will be arranged for 10th July for the five swimmers who missed last night's Studio First Aid session, but everyone will be back in the water. The final Studio session on Friday August 14th has been cancelled in light of the progress made in the two sessions which have already taken place.
It was Girls' Night in Lane 1 last night - with the three boys away on weekend Family Scout Camps. It is safe to say that the girls more than made up for the lack of boys - they are best described as pocket rockets... small but mighty! They certainly kept Steve, Andrew, Rachel and Dan busy and are making solid progress towards Rookie Bronze 2. Their enthusiasm is infectious!
Thank you, as always, to our Instructors and Young Volunteers - this club would not happen without your commitment, loyalty and endeavour.
So... just three sessions left before the summer break, with our last session on Friday 24th July. We will see you on Friday! Please remember to book places on the Hatfield Water Park trip if you wish your swimmers to attend.
Mary
July 4th
Exciting Progress Behind the Scenes
Hello everyone! It’s Kingsley, sorry I haven't been poolside lately but I’m excited to share some of the fantastic work taking place behind the scenes to help our club grow and thrive. Over recent weeks, I have been busy working alongside Keith Old, our club website designer and video producer, and Mary Firth on several exciting projects.
Keith has been leading the development of our latest video productions, showcasing the achievements, training sessions, and success stories of our swimmers and volunteers. One of our key goals has been to support fundraising efforts through a variety of money-raising bids and funding applications.
The new video content is helping us demonstrate the positive impact our club has on young people and the wider community. By presenting strong evidence of our achievements and ambitions, we hope to secure additional funding that will benefit swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Mary Firth has ensured that the welfare and safeguarding of our members remain at the heart of the process. Her guidance has helped us make sure that all content reflects the club’s values of safety, inclusion, respect, and enjoyment.
Alongside our latest video project, I have been researching with Keith new website providers in order to meet SwimEngland policy guidelines on imagery and child protection. There's still alot of work to do but teh journey begins with small steps.
As Club mascot, I am incredibly proud of the teamwork being shown by everyone involved. The combined efforts of Keith, Mary, our coaches, volunteers, swimmers, and families are helping to build a brighter future for the club. I look forward to sharing more updates soon as our fundraising bids progress, our videos reach wider audiences, and our social media presence continues to grow.
Thank you to everyone who supports Armthorpe Kingfishers Swimming Club – together, we are making a real difference
Kingsley
July 2nd
Reminder to Lanes 3 and 4:
Tomorrow evening's session - Friday 3rd July - is in the Studio for the full hour. The session will focus on the First Aid aspects of the NLA Bronze Star Award and is the final element of this assessment. For most swimmers - this will enable you to complete this award, with presentations after the session next Friday 10th July. Please arrive for 7.40pm for a prompt start. Please wear PE Kit and bring a drink. Thank you!
Mary
June 28th
A huge well done to all 31 life savers (and families) who braved blisteringly hot weather to attend Life Saving on Friday - you were all amazing! The same has to be said for our Instructors and Young Volunteers - we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their commitment to our swimmers, our club and our families.
Lane 1 had their first introduction to CPR.. it is never too early!
Lane 2 are a week away from achieving Rookie Gold 1... it has been quite a thirteen weeks!
Lanes 3 and 4 have completed initiative scenarios and are a week away from NLA Bronze Star which they embarked upon in January
So... next Friday - 3rd July:
Lanes 3 and 4 will be in the Studio for the full hour completing the First Aid aspects of NLA Bronze Star - please arrive promptly for a 7.45pm start, wear PE kit and bring a drink.
Lane 2 will be completing the 400m survival swim, initiative scenarios, wading rescues and some catch up activities.
Lane 1 will be continuing learning the skills included in Rookie Bronze 2.
It's going to be busy!! There are just FOUR sessions left until the summer break. The last session will be Friday 24th July. We return, raring to go, on Friday 14th August.
Please remember to bring a drink to each session - it is essential that our swimmers keep hydrated especially in this very warm weather.
We have a Kingfishers social event at Hatfield Water Park on Sunday 9th August - places are on a "first come first served" basis - so please see the poster and complete the googleform if your child/ren want to attend. The link to the googleform is in the comments.
See you on Friday!!
Mary
June 19th
Many Congratulations to Lucy Rodger and Esme on achieving the RLSS Distinction Award, the highest level of achievement within the programme. This outstanding accomplishment recognises not only your exceptional lifesaving knowledge and practical skills but also your unwavering dedication and commitment to personal development.
Reaching this prestigious standard is a significant achievement and reflects the hard work and determination you have shown throughout your training.
As part of earning the award, 30 hours of volunteering was completed, demonstrating commitment to supporting others and giving back to the lifesaving community.
Your willingness to contribute time, alongside achieving the programme’s highest standard, is a real testament to your character, professionalism, and passion for water safety.
Everyone at Kingfishers is incredibly proud of your success and extends heartfelt congratulations on your remarkable achievement.
Mary
June 18th
Allows follow the Water Safety Code
Please take care over the weekend! These posters will remind you about staying safe in and around water.
Mary
June 17th
Important message for all Life Savers across all lanes - please make sure that you wear tops and bottoms over your swimwear for all pool-based sessions - we are underway with NLA and Rookie assessments, and clothing is required for some tasks. Thank you!!
Mary
June 13th
Good morning everyone,
An amazing 31/35 swimmers attended last night's Life Saving session... and all, as always, worked with great enthusiasm and endeavour.
Our eight Lane 1 swimmers received their Bronze 1 Award Certificates, badges and stickers and are now underway with Bronze 2.
Lane 2 revisited "Float to Live" as a survival technique and engaged very knowledgeably with the Q/A which starts most of our sessions. All swimmers successfully completed one of the two Gold 1 timed assessments - with a swap round next week to complete the other.
Lanes 3/4, fresh from their Studio session last week, were involved in a range of rescues and land-based activities as they continue their preparation for the NLA Bronze Star assessment - which we are hoping to complete by September.
We are pleased to welcome back Millie, into Lane 2, after a year out - it was lovely to see that she has remembered a lot of what she was taught first time around and is now busy catching up with Gold 1 assessments. I have to say that having a Mollie, a Molly, a Miles and now a Millie in one Lane... is proving a challenge for Thomas, Lucy and me - but we are up to it!
A special mention to Lucy, our Lane 2 Young Volunteer who has continued to attend despite having been completing GCSEs over the last month - THANK YOU! One more to go now! You've got this! Similarly, Thomas is almost at the end of his three year Uni course at Sheffield Hallam, and is preparing for his PGCE course starting in September. We wish him luck with his final results!
Wishing everyone a lovely and safe week - see you in the water next Friday!
Mary
June 10th
RLSS UK is partnering with The Mirror on the powerful new water safety campaign ‘Save Lives for Sam’.
Working in collaboration with The Mirror and MP Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, the campaign aims to prevent water-related tragedies across the UK. The new campaign will lobby the government to create REAL change, and will run through to the start of the summer holidays.
This campaign urgently calls for:
• A national Public Health & Safety Awareness Campaign on TikTok and social media to raise awareness among parents and children of water-related risks
• Increased accountability for water companies, landowners, and those in control of large bodies of open water to take ownership and implement proper safety measures and install appropriate rescue equipment.
• The introduction of compulsory pre-holiday school lessons covering water safety, including the Water Safety Code, Float to Live, and Phone-Float-Throw advice.
• Progression of ‘Sam’s Law’ into legislation to require safety equipment at high-risk large bodies of water and make its damage or theft an aggravated criminal offence.
As communities prepare for summer, this is a crucial moment to make water safety a national priority.
Together, we can help more people stay safe and save lives.
Follow us to see the campaign take place and support the call for change.
Read the full campaign announcement: https://www.mirror.co.uk/.../save-lives-sam-campaign-stop...
Mary
June 6th
Good morning, everyone!
Amazing attendance at Life Saving last night! 15 from Lanes 3/4 in the Studio and 18 from Lanes 1/2 in the pool! So 33/34 - an attendance record!
A special well done to Lanes 3/4 who did an hour of quite intense preparation for the CPR / First Aid elements of the NLA Bronze Star Award. The next Studio based session is arranged for Friday July 3rd. Back in the water on Friday to tackle the water-based elements!
Well done to our Lane 1 swimmers - all of whom have achieved their Rookie Gold 1 Award since starting Life Saving in March this year: Aween, Jacob, Nikola, Lucy, Mia, Royem, Atlas and Sophie! Rookie Bronze 2 here we come!
Super effort from our Lane 2 swimmers who are working very hard on Gold 1 Assessments. This is a very tricky award with some demanding tows and a 400m swim - but our swimmers are up to the challenge! A special well done to Amelia, who has achieved the Rookie Silver 2 and 3 Awards since starting in April - a superb achievement.
Superstar Awards were presented to Alice, John, Miles, William, Mollie and Emily for their excellent response on 29/5/26!
Many thanks, as always, to our Young Volunteers Emily, Lucy, Daniel, Esme, Rodger, Lisa and Maisy. Along with our instructors and swimmers' parents, you make the Club possible for our swimmers!
See you all on Friday!
Pink drinks bottle left poolside - I will bring it to next week's session.
Mary
May 30th
PLEASE READ .
Sadly, every year families are affected by incidents in open water during warm weather.
As warmer weather arrives, many young swimmers will be tempted by the cooler rivers, lakes, canals, reservoirs and the sea.
And while competitive swimmers are very often confident in the water...natural environments are very different from the pool.
Cold water, currents, changing weather, fatigue, poor visibility and unfamiliar conditions can affect even strong swimmers far more quickly than people expect.
This is a good time for parents and swimmers to have open conversations about water awareness, personal limits and safe decision making.
Because confidence in the pool does not automatically mean safety in unpredictable water.
Many incidents happen on warm days, in places that feel calm and familiar at first.
It is also important for young swimmers to understand that trying to help others in difficulty can place them in danger too.
Especially without the right knowledge, support or training.
Learning water safety, survival and lifesaving awareness from properly qualified instructors is one of the most important things any parent can do for their child.
Not to create fear.
But to build respect, judgement and understanding around water environments outside the pool.
Swimming is a wonderful skill.
But nature does not recognise race times, training volumes or confidence.
Awareness matters too .
Lee
30th May
Advanced Notice - Summer Break Closure
The last session will be Friday 24 July 2026
First session back will be Friday 14 August 2026
Nicola
May 29th
I get asked frequently about periods so here’s a little bit of info to help you and your swimmers.
Nicola
May 25th
Stay safe in and around water!
Mary
May 23rd
Good morning, everyone!
Well done to all 25 swimmers who attended last night's session. Special Well Done to John and Miles (Lane 2) who received certificates for their hard work on stroke technique - but also to ALL our Lane 2 swimmers who have now started Gold 1 Assessments. This Award is a real "step up" from the earlier Rookie awards, with some very challenging rescues and tows, requiring speed, stamina and technique - but we have made an excellent start!
Important update for Lanes 3 and 4 - our NLA Bronze Star candidates:
On the first Friday of every month, for the next three months, starting Friday 5th June, we will be focusing on important, newly updated CPR / First Aid and Theory sections of this qualification. These sessions will take place in the Studio at Armthorpe Leisure Centre and will take up the full hour, so swimmers will not be in the water during those sessions. The dates are as follows:
Friday 5th June 7.45pm - 8.45pm
Friday 3rd July 7.45pm - 8.45pm
*Friday 14th August 7.45pm - 8.45pm
All other sessions will be water-based as usual.
Our summer break means that there will be no life saving sessions on Friday 31st July and *Friday 7th August.
Our Lane 1 "newbies" are settling down really well and beginning to develop solid rescue and personal survival skills. I have ordered some Rookie Lifeguard Progress Booklets for our swimmers. These booklets illustrate the requirements for all nine Rookie Awards and are a very useful resource and create a record of achievement. The last page is where swimmers can put their Award Stickers. The booklets are available to all Lane 1 swimmers, from this Friday, for an optional payment of £2.50.
Wishing everyone a very good half term - and we will look forward to seeing you this coming Friday 29th May.
Mary
Latest News 2026
May 20th
Advanced Notice - Summer Break Closure
Lifesaving
The last session will be Friday 24 July 2026.
First session back will be Friday 14 August 2026
Nicola
May 14th
Hello everyone!
To all those who have being doing SATs this week… well done - I hope you feel happy with your performances! Leave them behind now!
We are looking forward to seeing more smiles at life saving this week as you relax and enjoy yourself!
To all those doing GCSEs and A Levels - and those supporting them - dig in, breathe and just go for it - these exams WILL come to an end, and you will come through to the other side!
We are looking forward to seeing you all on Friday!
Mary
May 12th
Amazing news! Armthorpe Kingfishers Swimming Club are being paid this week in easyfundraising’s £2.2 million Donation Day – all thanks to our supporters shopping online. We were paid £15.99, simply by being part of Easyfundraising.
Want to get involved? Sign up for free and turn your online shopping at over 8,000 retailers into donations for our cause, at no extra cost to you!
Plus, sign up today and we could also win a massive £5,000 donation:
Mary
May 12th
GCSE / A Level students!
I’m sorry that this message is a little late, but it still comes with BIG good luck wishes to all of you - from everyone at Armthorpe Kingfishers Swimming Club!
You’ve got this! Your best will ALWAYS be good enough!
Mary
May 12th
CLOTHING ORDER
Anyone who would like to order clothing (hoodies/onesies/backpacks etc) please send me a direct message (via messenger) including size and if you would like it personalized
On the website there is a link of what is available to order including prices
This order book will be open until Friday 15th May 26
Claire
May 8th
Just a thought! I liked this - simple and to the point
Mary
May 3rd
Good morning everyone!
This week's special mention must go to our Lanes 3 and 4 who engaged really well in the CPR / First Aid session delivered by Ella, Sandra, Ian, Rodger and Esme, in the Studio on Friday. We are now delivering the 2026 updated content which has seen quite significant changes with child and infant CPR and elements of First Aid. Our swimmers practised with our Resusci Anne Manikins (adult and child), and our three Resusci Babies (in their new outfits).
Well done, also to our Lane 2 swimmers who tackled the extended arm tow with their usual enthusiasm and effort - it is testament to their progress that their first experience of this tow, and the T-Shirt tow over 25m, presented little difficulty. Stamina development is improving steadily. Many thanks to our Young Volunteer, Lucy, who is working hard to bring our "newbie", Amelia, rapidly up to speed with Bronze and Silver Life Saving Skills.
The Bank Holiday meant that our attendance on Friday was slightly down at 22 swimmers - with just three in our Lane 1. However, those three swimmers gave 100% and definitely benefited from the personalised training from Andrew and Lisa. We will hopefully be back to our full cohort next Friday, with, potentially, two more "newbies".
We have had a new application via email to join our club from a parent who is a friend of one of our current swimmer's parents - I have replied to the email but have not, as yet, had a reply. If you know who this applicant might be, please ask them to check their spam mail, and get in touch with me so we can make arrangements for their son to come for a taster session.
We will all be back in the pool next week, and will look forward to seeing everyone. Have a good week
Mary
Lanes 3 and 4:
April 26
Hello everyone - just advanced notice that Life Savers in Lanes 3 and 4 will be in the Studio at Armthorpe Leisure Centre from 7.45pm - 8.15pm on Friday 1st May. Please meet in reception at 7.40pm for a prompt start. This is to enable delivery of a CPR practical session. Swimmers will be back in the pool at 8.15pm for the last half an hour. Please bring something warm to wear - the Studio is not the warmest place!!
Thank you!
Mary
April 25th
Good morning everyone!
Many thanks for everyone who made last night's Life Saving session so busy and enjoyable - 28 swimmers, 4 Young Volunteers and 5 Instructors. Especially good attendance from Lanes 2 and 4.
We now have six completed Silver Worksheets from our Lane 2 swimmers - so just four to be handed in. Please try to encourage your child to complete theirs and hand it in next Friday.
Special "shout out" to Nancy - one of our Lane 2 swimmers who had the enormous honour of being a mascot for Manchester City last Sunday - walking out with Nunes! What an experience! Definitely one for the memory banks!
Another "shout out" to our "newbies" in Lanes 1 and 3 - they have settled in so well and so quickly and are beginning to develop some very useful and important survival and rescue skills.
And another "shout out" to Andrew and Thomas - two of our Lane Instructors who are juggling Life Saving with their University commitments, and Georgia who is preparing for her A Level Examinations and University applications next month - we really appreciate everything you, Sandra, Ian, Ella (who comes straight from work each Friday) and Steve, do in supporting our swimmers and the Club.
Finally, a thank you to you as parents/carers - who will be packing your swimmer's swim bags, getting them changed ready for the session, bringing them to the pool and watching them from the spectator area. The swimmers might not say it, but they will, some day, remember and appreciate the hours you put in to support them! You are our unsung heroes!
Have a good week!
Mary
April 19th
Well done to Esme - one of our six Young Volunteers - on completing the Swim England Foundation Safeguarding Training for Young People!
April 19th
Good afternoon, everyone,
Just an update on last Friday's session - we had 26 swimmers, six Young Volunteers and six Instructors in attendance, with plenty of excellent work in evidence from all concerned. Every swimmer brings something very special to our sessions - some are great at distance swimming, others at rescues, others at leadership, others at friendship - the list goes on... but all just bring such enthusiasm and positivity. We can't ask any more of them.
Our three new Young Volunteers, Emily, Daniel and Lisa, are now half way through their probationary period and doing exceptionally well. After three more sessions, they will be awarded their Club T Shirt and Certificate. The young people who have been Young Volunteers for almost 15 months now - Lucy, Esme and Rodger - are fabulous role models for our younger swimmers and we appreciate their efforts and commitment SO much!
Hopefully, this Friday, we will have the full complement of Lane 1 swimmers so that we can make further progress with the Rookie Bronze 1 Award. Lane 2 will continue their progress through the tricky Gold 1 programme - their stamina is steadily improving, along with their towing skills. Lanes 3 and 4 will further hone their initiative skills - one of the hardest aspects of life saving, given that it involves decision making at a serious level - and rope work, which is much harder than it looks!
Thank you, again, to all our parents / carers who bring their swimmers every week. If your child is a new member of Life Saving, please remember to bring their completed Membership forms and pass them to me poolside. Lane 2 swimmers are reminded to bring their completed Silver Worksheets, if they have not already done so. Well done to the four who have handed in theirs.
Thank you!
Mary
April 14th
Good morning, everyone,
Thank you to everyone who attended Friday's Life Saving session - we had 24 swimmers, 6 Young Volunteers and 6 Instructors - an excellent response considering that this was still in the Easter holiday period.
Special "shout outs" this week, have to go to: our Lane 2 swimmers for showing excellent focus throughout quite an intense session on unconscious casualty rescues - especially given that most of our swimmers are still at primary school! Lanes 3 and 4 clearly had some fun working with the "Ice Mat", and also developing their towing skills. Well done to our "newbies" in Lanes 1 and 3 - it is lovely to see them settling in and developing new skills...and new friends.
Superstar Certificates were presented to Jakub Garbacik (Lane 3) and Nancy Roberts (Lane 2). Ada Nadolska has also been awarded one of these certificates; it will be presented at this Friday's session.
Just a reminder to bring an old T Shirt and bottoms to swim in and a drinks bottle. Please remove any earrings before the session - just to be on the safe side
See you Friday!
Mary
April 9th
March 28th
Good afternoon, everyone!
Fantastic attendance at Life Saving last night - 29/35 swimmers! This includes 8 of our 10 "newbies" - who, it has to be said, were an absolute credit to themselves, their families and their Club, along with 21 "regulars", whose commitment never wavers! WELL DONE! And, again - a big thank you to all parents / carers who bring the swimmers!
And... on Volunteer Appreciation Day, a special shout out has to go, firstly, to our superb instructors - Thomas, Steve, Andrew, Ian, Sandra, Ella and Georgia - your contribution to our club NEVER fails to amaze me, and NEVER goes unnoticed. THANK YOU! And secondly, to our Young Volunteers - Lucy, Esme and Rodger, now well into your second year of committed volunteering - I know I keep saying this - but we could not manage without you! THANK YOU! Lucy - you disappeared without receiving your Thank You Egg - I will (try to) keep it safe for you!
It was lovely to see Dan, Emily and Liza - three of our new NLA Bronze Medallion Graduates beginning their Young Volunteer training last night. There is a six week probationary period, after which you will get your Young Volunteer Certificate - and a Club T Shirt if you don't already have one! Thank you for wanting to do this!
Apologies for the senior moment which led me to forget to do the Easter Lane Draw on poolside - but, we got there in the end, thanks to families in reception at the end of the session!
The lucky winners were:
Lane 1: Amelia
Lane 2: Ruby (keeping this safe for you, Ruby!)
Lane 3 Rowan
Lane 4: Maddison
A Superstar certificate was presented to Miles (Lane 1) and another will be presented on 10/4/26 to Jakub Lane 3.
A final thank you to our Lifeguards and staff at Armthorpe Leisure Centre - we really appreciate you!
Wishing everyone the happiest of Easters - and we will look forward to seeing you all on Friday 10th April. Please remember that there is no session on Good Friday.
Mary
March 25th
Training cancelled Easter Weekend
There will be no training on Friday 3rd April (C squad and lifesaving) and Saturday 4th April 2026 (A and B squad), as it is Easter weekend, so we have limited coaches available.
Wishing @everyone a very Happy Easter
Nicola
Hello everyone - please note that the message below from our Club Chair, also relates to our Life Saving session on Good Friday 3rd April. We will reinforce this message when we see our Life Savers at this Friday’s session 27/3/26
Mary
March 19th
Following on from Kinglsey's video on this topic area aimed at our young Kingfisher swimmers, the latest production highlights the key concepts of 'Diversity and Inclusion' for all involved in the club.
This issue is a key component of the Swim England accreditation process which enables the club to operate.
Keith
March 20th
Good evening everyone!
Well... what a LOVELY session tonight with lots of work, lots of productive noise, lots of awards and 28 swimmers!
Congratulations to our fantastic Lane 4 swimmers who received their NLA Bronze Medallion Awards tonight, from Steve and Andrew! What a journey they have been on since starting as Rookies about three years ago! We are very sorry to see them go... but wish every one of them all the very best as they go onto their new adventures!
Well done to:
Matthew W
James W
Daniel N
Kaitlyn R
Liza A
Laura G
Emily D
Please send us any photos of your children with their awards so that they can go on our Life Saving Wall of Fame on the website.
Well done, also to our Lane 1 swimmers! They have achieved their Rookie Silver 3 Awards tonight - having negotiated the tricky "initiative" scenarios.
Well done to:
Alice B
Emily P
Molly B
Mollie CY
William D
Ruby P
Miles P
John P
Kaleb R
Next week we will complete the assessments for any swimmers absent tonight, and also begin our journey through Rookie Gold! Please remember to complete your Silver Worksheets, and bring them to the first session after Easter (Friday 10th April)
It has to be said that the volume generated by our Lanes 2 and 3 swimmers was amazing tonight - their level of communication is improving all the time - and their enthusiasm is endless! Well done!
Superstar Awards were presented to: Emily, Alice and Molly (Lane 1) and Maddison (Lane 2). Well done!
Next week, we will have a new group of Rookies starting with us on Rookie Bronze 1 in Lane 1 with Steve and Andrew. This means that all other groups will move on a lane as follows:
Mary's and Thomas's group - Lane 2: Rookie Gold 1
Sandra's and Ian's group - Lane 3 - NLA Bronze Star, along with three new members who will follow the NLA Bronze Certificate programme
Ella's and Georgia's group will move into Lane 4 - NLA Bronze Star.
Our brilliant Young Volunteers (Lucy, Esme and Rodger) will stay with their current groups.
Our weekly numbers will increase to 35 swimmers - so it is going to be busy! Thank you in advance to all parents and carers for bringing your children week after week - it is much appreciated.
I will update you on the arrangements for Good Friday as soon as they are confirmed.
See you next week!
Mary
March 19th
Good morning!
Just a reminder to our current Lane 4 swimmers. Tomorrow is the final scheduled Bronze Medallion session, and awards will be presented at the close of that session. Parents are, of course, warmly invited to come into reception at around 8.50pm to see the swimmers receive their awards from Steve and Andrew.
If your child / children are unable to attend, do please let us know so that we can make arrangements for them to complete the award.
Thank you!
Mary
You will be in the Studio from 7.45pm - 8.15pm this Friday 6th March - to do some First Aid and CPR - before going in the pool for the last half hou
Mary
March 13th
Hello everyone!
An amazing night at Life Saving! 22 swimmers who all worked really well. A special mention to Lane 1 who were REALLY on it, tonight - with some excellent 200m swimming and Wading Rescues. Next week should see most of the swimmers achieve their Silver 3 Awards - and they will be well deserved! Just the important "Initiative" scenarios, and another wading rescue to navigate and then on 27th March it will be time to start the last series of Rookie awards - Rookie Gold Many thanks to Thomas and Lucy for everything you do to support our Lane 1 - I could not manage without you! A new set of newbies will start on 27th March, so ours won't be newbies any more!!
Lane 4 are very nearly there with their NLA Bronze Medallions - next week should enable us to see them achieve their awards. If any of these swimmers would like to train as Young Volunteers - like Lucy, Rodger and Esme - just speak to me at the end of next week, and we'll get you started. Thank you to Steve, Andrew and Ian for all your support with these swimmers - most of whom started out as Rookies! What a journey they have had!
Lanes 2 and 3 will become the senior groups after next week (moving into Lanes 3 and 4). They will continue working towards their NLA Bronze Star Awards, which we are hoping they will achieve by June/July this year. Well done to Maddison (Lane 2), who, despite an injured shoulder, still attended tonight and was able to support poolside with her Lane. Thank you to Sandra, Ella, Rodger and Esme for all the time, patience and effort you show, week after week!
Thank you to all our parents who bring our swimmers to the sessions - there would be no club without them, or you!
Finally, it would be lovely if all the parents/carers of Lanes 1 and 4, could come in to reception at the end of next week's session to see your swimmers receive their awards!
Have a good week! — feeling proud.
Mary
March 7th
Hello everyone,
Well... another excellent night at Life Saving. A fantastic 26 swimmers in attendance, along with our three excellent Young Ambassadors, Lucy, Rodger and Esme. These young people are absolutely vital to the smooth running of our sessions and we are endlessly grateful to them. Well done to Esme and Maisy, who have now completed their Swim England Foundation Safeguarding Qualification. All our Young Volunteers now have this qualification.
100% attendance again from Lane 4 who, following a successful CPR / First Aid session in the Studio last night, have made really good progress with their preparation for the NLA Bronze Medallion Award. The final assessments for their award will be completed by the end of Friday 20th March. We hope, very much, that some of our Lane 4 swimmers will want to continue and train as Young Volunteers with us when they have achieved their NLA Bronze Medallions - they should let us know if this is something they would like to do.
Lanes 2/3 are settling into the NLA Bronze Star programme and are making sound progress with the development of water based and land based rescues, along with stamina and speed activities.
Lane 1 should complete their Rookie Silver 3 Awards by the end of Friday 20th March. Any swimmers who still need to complete catch up assessments because of absence, will be accommodated. The primary focus over the coming two weeks will be both of the wading rescues and Initiative Tests. Then... it's onto Rookie Gold!!
We look forward to welcoming a new batch of "Newbies" mainly for our Rookie Life Guard Bronze programme, on March 27th. Steve and Andrew will be the instructors for this group, with the other instructors moving up a lane with their current groups.
Finally - a HUGE thank you to all our Instructors - without them, and their wonderful commitment, there would be no club!
Mary
March 7th
There will be limited capacity, starting 27/3/26, for children aged 8-11 years, at our Life Saving Club. If you are interested - please send me a message. The club runs after C Squad from 7.45pm - 8.45pm every Friday and delivers Rookie Lifeguard and National Life Saving Academy awards.
Mary
March 2nd
Swim England
February 23rd
KINGSLEY'S KORNER
Latest club video highlighting Diversity and Inclusion.
February 27th
Hello everyone!
Wow! 27 swimmers at tonight’s session - and a brilliant response from every single one!
Special mentions to:
Lane 4 with 100% attendance. They have worked really hard and with excellent focus towards their NLA Bronze Medallion assessments.
Lane 1 - with a real team effort towards catch up assessments - the way the swimmers support each other is so lovely to see. Well done John and Miles who earned their 200m badges. Two more weeks should see us in a position to be able to award all our swimmers their Rookie Silver 3 Certificates and badges.
The attendance of Lanes 2 and 3 was 12/14 - which is an excellent response - they are working towards their Bronze Star Award, and, considering that they are only 13/14 years old, this will be quite an achievement. Next Friday, these swimmers will be in the Studio from 7.45pm - 8.15pm, working on CPR and First Aid, and then in the pool for the rest of the session. I will send out a reminder next week.
Thank you, again, for all your support - children may forget to thank you for bringing them and making sure they are kitted out with everything they need, but we know and remember and are grateful!
Have a good weekend! See you next Friday!
Mary
February 20th
Good evening everyone!
I just wanted to send a BIG thank you out to all the 15 swimmers who attended tonight’s life saving session, and those who brought them. It is very much appreciated, especially on a cold and dark February night!
Another BIG thank you to the four instructors who were able to volunteer tonight, along with Rodger and Lucy, two of our Young Volunteers. Once again, your commitment is so impressive and appreciated!
We will be back at full strength next Friday and we will look forward to seeing you! Have a good weekend, and an even better week!
Mary
February 12th
Message to Lanes 2 and 3
Please remember to bring a top and bottoms to wear over your swimwear on Friday! Thank you!
Mary
January 29th
Hello everyone,
Looking forward to seeing everyone back tomorrow after last week’s Presentation Evening .
Please bring your completed updated Membership form if you have not yet done so. Most of you have - thank you! Please remember to wear tops and bottoms over your swimwear
For those swimmers from Lane 1 who bought one of the booklets shown below… I have finally managed to obtain replacement stickers to make up for those lost. Please bring your booklet to tomorrow’s session, and we’ll get your missing stickers sorted. I still have a small number of booklets if any one wants one
Mary
Armthorpe Kingfishers Life Saving Club:
Annual Presentation Ceremony: Armthorpe Community Centre 7.30pm 23rd January 2026
Sharing Success Poster for Life Saving
19th January
Hello everyone,
Another busy night at Life Saving with 26 swimmers working hard towards the development of their skills, with positivity and focus. Just a quick shout out to Lane 1 swimmers for a superb response throughout the session culminating in a very exciting team bodyboard race!
Thank you to our Instructors and Young Volunteers for all the hard work they put in to the sessions - they are an amazing group of people and I am endlessly grateful for their support and commitment on top of jobs, university commitments, examinations and school studies.
Please remember… there is NO LIFE SAVING SESSION this Friday 23rd January because it is our Annual Kingfishers Presentation Evening at Armthorpe Community Centre at 7.30pm - to which everyone is welcome - it will be lovely to see you. Life Saving Certificates will be presented during the evening to all those swimmers who did not collect them on Friday.
The next Life Saving session will be Friday 30/1/26.
I have attached to this post, an updated “Sharing Success” poster.
Thank you!
Mary
13th January
Good morning, everyone
We had an excellent attendance of 26 swimmers on the first session of Life Saving on Friday. Well done to all the swimmers who attended and thank you to all families who brought them!
This term, we continue to work through the knowledge, techniques, rescue skills and first aid required by the Rookie and NLA Awards Schemes as follows:
Lane 1: Rookie Silver 3
Lanes 2 and 3: NLA Bronze Star
Lane 4: NLA Bronze Medallion
Six “Well Done” Awards for various “over and above” contributions, including top attendance, willingness to demonstrate and general all round sustained positivity, were presented last Friday and hopefully there will be more to come in the weeks ahead. Well done to Friday’s recipients
We have benefited from Armthorpe Ward Councillor funding which has enabled us to purchase a throw ring, two body boards, two float tubes and spare goggles. Photos were taken on Friday so that we could provide evidence of the resources in use, for the Ward Council. These resources will certainly enhance our delivery and we are grateful to the Ward Council for their generosity.
Could I ask that all swimmers remember to bring a drinks bottle (and use it) and clothing to wear over their swimwear, please? Swimmers need to complete various water-based tasks clothed, and also need to demonstrate that they can remove clothing in water. Swimming in clothing also aids the improvement of stamina and strength.
Finally, a reminder that our full Swimming Club Awards Presentation Evening is on Friday 23rd January, at 7.30pm at Armthorpe Community Centre - so there will be no Life Saving session that evening. Our Lane 2 and 3 swimmers with Bronze Certificate and Bronze Star Awards will be presented with them on that evening if they are able to attend - otherwise we will present them at the end of the Friday session either this week or on 30th January. Obviously, our Lane 1 swimmers are also invited to attend.
Thank you! See you on Friday
Mary
Last nights session: Throw Ring, Torpedo Buoys and Bodyboards all in action
January 10
Well done to all our lifesavers on another great turnout - braving the elements to get here and then giving their all in the session.
We're very proud of you
Mary
January 8th
Hello everyone,
Maisy achieved her RLSS Bronze Medallion with our Life Saving Club almost exactly a year ago today. She is one of us!
If you are able to sponsor her, that would be lovely! Just click the link below!
Thank you!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MWEZqG69E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Mary
For the 3rd year running, Maisy is taking on the Swim 22 Challenge – and this year she’s pushing herself even further!
Maisy has set herself the huge challenge of swimming 44 miles over 12 weeks, starting on 22nd March
The equivalent of swimming from Dover to Calais AND BACK!!
Diabetes is very close to our hearts, with my dad being diabetic for as long as I can remember, so this cause means a great deal to our family.
If you have a few spare £’s, Maisy would be incredibly grateful for your support, and every donation really does make a difference
What a great way to start of 2026 with the news that Lucas is now a qualified lifeguard. Hearty congratulations from all at Kingfishers.