A swimming club in Ripon that has been teaching children for more than 88 years has received the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
Ripon City Swimming Club was founded in 1936 and continues to teach the children of Ripon and the surrounding area to this day.
And the club has been recognised for its efforts with a Kings Award - the equivalent of an MBE for the club and the highest award in the UK for local voluntary groups.
Ripon City Swimming Club club currently has 9 teachers who all trained with the club - some even learning to swim with the club themselves - and their experience spans over 25 years.
Within the club, there are also young helpers who can go on to achieve teaching qualifications.
Louise Barrett of Ripon City Swimming Club said:
“Ripon is surrounded by rivers, ponds and a canal which makes it all the more important that the children of Ripon are water safe and have the opportunity to learn to swim, something the government recognises and swimming is on the national curriculum.
“There have been many volunteers over the years and we would like them all to take pride in this award because without them the club may not have survived, this award is for us all.”

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