New Earswick Swimming Club teacher and coach Jon Woodford has been awarded the Young Volunteer of the Year Award for the ASA’s North-East Region.

Woodford, 17, is a talented swimmer, having represented the club at county, regional and national level and establishing himself as a role model to younger swimmers at the club.

Besides studying for his ‘A’-levels, he voluntarily teaches and coaches for New Earswick Swimming Club. Woodford is involved with the club’s activities each day of the week and is now in his third year as a volunteer.

He began helping the club’s non-swimmers in the learn-to-swim programme, three times per week, at the age of 14.

He rapidly became involved with other groups and, at the age of 15, he was occasionally leading lessons to gain experience.

A year later, Woodford successfully completed the ASA/UKCC Level 1 Teaching Aquatics course and became heavily involved with the club’s competitive training squads and more recently completed the ASA/UKCC Level 1 Coaching Swimming course.

He took over as lead coach to the Age Group Development 1 Squad in December 2008 after the resignation of their regular coach, and since then has had a huge impact on the club’s youngsters.

Director of coaching James Richards said: “For me, it is so pleasing to see how the young swimmers respond to being coached by one of the club’s best senior swimmers.”

Woodford often attends competitions on behalf of the club and has become involved in the club’s ‘Friendly Team’, which aims to provide young swimmers with their first taste of competitive intra-club swimming.

He is currently looking out for a Level 2 course and regularly attends CPD seminars.

Chairman Martin Richards was also nominated for Outstanding Contribution at Club Level due to his efforts in helping the club achieve its Swim21 Accreditation.

* Don’t forget to see more swimming in the free PARK LIFE supplement in Saturday’s editions of The Press