I always say there’s a pattern with my end-of-year messages, and once again I hope I’m not tempting fate when I say it’s been another amazing year for the STA. Yet again, there have been so many achievements that the hardest part has been deciding what to include – rather than what we’ve actually done!

This year, our conference theme Making Waves: Connect • Learn • Lead really summed up the spirit of the organisation. It was a fabulous event that brought our aquatics community together to share knowledge, learn from one another, and look ahead with confidence. Having Olympic champion and national swimming icon Rebecca Adlington OBE open the conference was a real highlight and set the tone perfectly for what followed.

Over the last 12 months, the numbers really do speak for themselves. We delivered more than 60% of the market share of Level 2 swimming teaching qualifications in England – a fantastic milestone and a real credit to everyone involved. We also launched our brand-new Level 3 Pool Lifeguard qualification, developed in consultation with employers and lifesaving professionals, and introducing blended learning and dual first aid certification for the very first time.

Alongside this, we completely relaunched our First Aid portfolio – one of the most significant updates we’ve ever made. With combined qualifications, blended options, and refreshed materials, this has given tutors and learners far greater flexibility. We also launched our new People Developer Course, recognising that the way people learn, work and communicate has changed, and helping tutors, teachers and managers adapt their approaches to support individuals more effectively.

Many of you will remember that this time last year we launched the graded Learn to Swim Programme at conference. I’m delighted to say we’ve taken this a step further with a full suite of supporting videos covering all seven levels. These are already live on STA Online and provide a consistent, practical resource for teachers across strokes, diving, water safety and rescue.

Campaigning has once again been a real strength. Through our Community STArters campaign, we awarded £1,000 grants to 12 grassroots organisations in 2024/25, reaching over 20,000 people. We then built on that success with Community Heart STArters, donating defibrillators to grassroots sports and aquatic charities – a campaign with the potential to genuinely save lives – this will continue into 2026 when our new campaign will be announced.

It’s also been encouraging to see this work recognised externally. We were proud to be named AO of the Year for delivering real impact on EDI at the Federation of Awarding Bodies Awards last year, to be finalists again this year for Team of the Year, and to be shortlisted for two national honours at the Charity Times Awards – up against some of the biggest charities in the UK.

Partnerships remain hugely important to the STA, and this year we’ve continued to strengthen existing relationships while welcoming new ones. We renewed and secured agreements with GLL, Serco, Wakefield Council, Walsall Council, Glasgow Life, and many others. We also secured an unprecedented five-year extension to our partnership with Paramount – keeping SpongeBob and PAW Patrol in the water – and announced an exciting new Dora the Explorer programme. Added to that, our new partnership with the RNLI is already helping us share vital water safety messages more widely.

This year also marked 10 years of the Swim Star Swim School programme, and we reached another major milestone with membership exceeding 20,000. What members consistently tell us is that it’s not just the insurance they value, but the personal support from the team at Anchor House and the reassurance that the STA is always there to represent and support them – something I can wholeheartedly echo as a member myself.

Following our latest membership survey at the end of 2024, an incredible 94% of members told us they are happy with the membership package. Building on that feedback, we went even further by introducing additional benefits, including a free legal helpline – all while freezing membership fees for the twelfth consecutive year.

Another major announcement at this year’s conference was the launch of our brand-new Level 2 Swimming Teacher Qualification, which will go live in 2026. This new regulated qualification has been developed directly in response to feedback from members, swim schools, tutors, learners and employers, and it really does represent a significant step forward for the profession. Aligned to CIMSPA’s updated Professional Standard, it brings together everything teachers need to deliver safe, high-quality and inclusive lessons, with a stronger practical focus to ensure learners leave the course confident and work-ready. Just as importantly, we’ve completely modernised how courses are delivered and managed, introducing digital learner portfolios, blended learning, and AI-assisted marking to reduce tutor workload and streamline administration. With built-in safeguarding options, free CPDs and 12 months’ membership included on completion, this qualification not only supports teachers beyond certification, but also sets a new benchmark for how swimming teacher training can and should be delivered in the future.

I’d also like to recognise Rachel Dean, STA’s Head of Despatch, who was this year’s very deserving recipient of the Garry Seghers Employee of the Year award. With 34 years of outstanding service to the STA, Rachel’s dedication, attention to detail and tireless work behind the scenes ensure our members receive the high standards they expect, and she truly embodies the values of our organisation.

And of course, we can’t forget April Fool’s Day and the now-infamous Dog Swimming Teacher qualification… proof, if nothing else, that the STA also knows how to have a bit of fun!

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark Dave Candler’s 10th anniversary as CEO. Dave is not a CEO who sits in an ivory tower – he understands this industry inside out, listens to members, and brings an energy and passion that continues to drive the STA forward. As he would be the first to say, none of this would be possible without the outstanding team at Anchor House, whose hard work and dedication underpin everything we’ve achieved this year.

So, it leaves me to say a huge thank you to our members, partners, ambassadors, tutors, teachers, trustees, and the entire STA team. Your continued support, passion and commitment are what make this charity so special.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year.