Surrey Park was established over 100 years ago as a not-for-profit organisation with a rich history of delivering swim lessons and coaching to our local community. We constantly ask ourselves how can we best engage our community, give back and ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn how to swim, be safe and have fun around water. Community Access Program for Swimming (CAPS) was borne out of our vision of ensuring everyone in our community should have access to swimming lessons and water safety education.
Starting as a donation based scheme in 2014, we subsidised beginner swimming lessons for newly arrived migrants, students with disabilities and financially disadvantaged families. In seeing the potential impact and further reach, we now donate 10 cents from every swim lesson undertaken through our learn to swim programs to this cause.
By participating in our learn to swim program you are helping us to assist those who are struggling financially and to educate people about the importance of water safety.
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Together we are making a difference
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Money from every lesson is donated to CAPS
Where is our funding going?
Our Newly Arrived Refugee/Migrant Program
Many migrant communities come to Australia having never seen a beach or pool before. In partnership with the Migrant Information Centre (Box Hill) and other migrant and refugee support organisations, we are engaging these students within our community who are disadvantaged financially, to assist them to develop water familiarisation and basic swimming skills.
Our 5 week introduction program has the majority of students comfortable submerging and completing basic swimming skills. Often, these students are assisted further to continue their swimming education until they are comfortable completing survival skills and basic strokes. Equal contributions from Surrey Park Swimming and our generous CAPS funding have allowed us to provide a free program to these swimmers.
Getting out and about spreading the message about Water Safety
Water is integral to our way of life, from our beautiful beaches and waterways to the local community pool. In Australia, we see too many people needlessly drown or injured in avoidable accidents. At Surrey Park, we are working hard on educating everyone in the community about the importance of safety around water.
We have developed an interactive water safety talk, delivered free-of-charge to all primary schools, kindergartens, childcare centres and community groups in our area. Our talks cover safety at the beach, home, inland waterways and your local pool with take-home messages for kids and adults alike. With most resources donated to us, the funding is used to cover the cost of additional resources. Feedback from this program has been overwhelmingly positive from a large percentage of schools and kindergartens in the City of Whitehorse area and beyond.
Email: schools@surreypark.org.au if you have any enquiries or would like to book a talk
Assisting those who need a helping hand
Part of our CAPS funding each term is put aside to help families who are needing some assistance financially. This funding is also used to assist families in our learn to swim and schools programs for their inclusive lessons if they have a child with special needs. If you are struggling financially, please get in touch and we will do our best to assist you.
How Can You Help?
Together we can make a difference to our local community.
A collection container for our CAPS program sits on our counter at the Surrey Park Swimming reception desk. Next time you pass the reception desk or book into one of our programs please give generously.
Donate To CAPS NowOur partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation means that donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
If you want more information or have any queries about CAPS please give us a call or drop in to one of our reception desks and we will happily answer any questions you may have.
