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Sarah Burling “I come here on a voluntary basis. I’m here most weeks but I do provide swim cover for another swim school at Handcross Park. I enjoy teaching children with additional challenges. I’ve taught children on the autistic spectrum, with Asperger Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and language processing difficulties. My son has Asperger’s which is why I had an interest in coming down to the Sunbeam Club initially, but he doesn’t swim here yet. I think for some people with younger children with additional challenges, the difficulty is that club sessions are held at 8pm on a Friday night. Children are tired at that time as they have been at school all week. My teaching here is not like having a lesson. I don’t say ‘would you like a lesson?’ Stuart clearly wanted my input so I spent the first two weeks concentrating on him and that led to Matthew asking for some help too. People didn’t seem to think Becky would want my help, as she was set into a routine of her own. But after a while Ann came to me and said ‘Becky’s very jealous, do you think you could spend some time with her?’ When I am around they can see what I am doing and realise it’s not a lesson and there isn’t a standard they have to reach. It’s just about giving tips. They will come to you rather than the other way around. Swimming has given me so much, and this is a way I can give something back. When you don’t succeed in all sorts of other areas of life, having something you are good at is nice, and these swimming sessions give the members so much confidence and self-esteem.”
Stuart Cutler (above, right) “We saw the information board about the Sunbeam Club in the Pavilions café and joined the club about four years ago. Now my dad Nick is the Chairman. I play lots of sport. I also like table tennis, football and badminton. I think swimming helps me with my co-ordination and gradually I’m improving. The first year that I joined I went to the gala. We had to do a timed swim beforehand so they know how fast you can go and decide your starting position for the handicap swim. The slower swimmers then start first and they
handicap the faster swimmers so it ends up like a photo finish. I’m one of the more confident swimmers now but I couldn’t swim much when I started. When I went to the first gala I went too fast at the start, but last year I knew I had to swim close to my time and I finished first in two races and second in another race. I’ve had some extra tuition with Sarah and that has helped me a lot. I was swimming quite well already but I didn’t have a good technique. She has helped me on the little things that make a big difference. “