SwimBritain FAQs

SwimBritain is a new series of swimming relay events nationwide designed to get Britain healthy. It’s for teams of four, and you can choose to swim with your friends, or join in with your family. Family teams must have at least one adult (over sixteen) and children must be aged at least eight. Find out more about what’s involved.

The events will be happening at ten pools across the country with one open water venue. See where all the events are taking place on our locations page. There will also be sessions with accredited swimming coaches at over 150 pools.

At British Gas we are passionate about looking after our nation’s health and have been the principal partner of British Swimming since 2009. Since then, we’ve invested in everything from free swims, to supporting The British Gas GBR Swimming Teams. SwimBritain is our biggest swimming programme to date, and aims to put the fun back into fitness. Read more about how we’re supporting British Swimming.

There are ten pool events and one open water swimming event. The open water event is only available for teams of over 16s.

SwimBritain is for swimmers of all abilities. You can choose a SwimBritain 4,000m team relay, or if that’s too far, go for Little SwimBritain – a 2,000m team relay. Every team member swims around buoys and completes either four laps of 250m or four laps of 125m, with a break after each lap. Open water relays are 4,000m.

Coaching sessions kick off in over 150 pools nationwide in June. The open water relay event and the rest of the pool events will be happening throughout September. You can find all the dates on our locations page.

SwimBritain is for swimmers of all abilities. As long as you are older than eight years old and can swim 125m or 250m without stopping, you can get involved. For less confident swimmers we suggest Little SwimBritain, where each team member completes four laps of 125m instead of four laps of 250m.

Swimming is a sport for everyone, so we want everyone to join in with SwimBritain. If you have any special requirements, please contact your event venue.

Your entry includes:

• Four 30-minute pool sessions with accredited swimming coaches
• Online tips, swimming technique videos and training session cards
• A training log to track your progress
• A SwimBritain swimming cap
• A SwimBritain band to time your swim (you’ll need to return this after the event)
• A SwimBritain t-shirt
• A SwimBritain medal
• A chance to swim with a star on the day!

If none of the locations are easy for you to get to, why not challenge yourself to swim 1000m at a pool near you? Just select the SwimBritain DIY option when you sign up.

A host of stars are supporting SwimBritain and your team’s efforts. When you sign up, simply choose your favourite to represent your team. You’ll then get personalised updates from them on the build up to your event. You may even get to swim with them on the day!

• Rebecca Adlington
• Ellie Simmonds
• Kerri-anne Payne
• Michael Jamieson
• Hannah Miley
• Duncan Goodhew
• Mark Foster
• David Walliams

Registration closes at 09:00 on the Friday that falls eight or nine days before each event.

You can create a team and get your friends or family to join you. Or you can join a team that’s already set up. To do this, you must enter a code that will be emailed to you from us or your team leader. Sign up now.

Children can take part as a family team. They must be eight years old for the pool relays, or 16 plus for open water relays, on the day of the event.

You will need the names and email addresses of your team members before you start. Also, it would be helpful to know if they are British Gas customers in order to get the discount. When you sign up, you can create a family or friends team. If you are swimming with your family, only the adults (16+) in your team will get an email with a code to join. If you are swimming with your friends, they will all be emailed with a code to join.

You can sign up and pay to secure your place, then find your team later. Or you can save your progress as you go and complete your registration once you’ve got your team together. Read our tips on how to create a team.

You’ll get an email with a code from us or your team leader. To join the team simply enter this at the sign up page. Children are entered by their adult family member and don’t need a code.

No. The relays mean that each member completes four individual laps of either 250m or 125m.

You can start a SwimBritain DIY challenge with your friends and swim 1,000m at a pool near you. When you sign up just select SwimBritain DIY option.

Yes. If you can no longer take part, your team leader can edit your details up to two weeks before the event, so someone else can take your place. If you are the team leader, please contact us.

You can change your details up to two weeks before your event. All you or your team member needs to do is log in to your account and choose the edit details.

Enter the code on the sign up page to join the team. Add your personal details and create your personal account.

If you are the team captain your sign up progress can be saved for you to finish later. However, your team’s place is only confirmed once you have paid and completed the registration. Sign up here.

No. However, you can change the session you have selected up to two weeks before the event.

Absolutely. You can choose to swim for a cause close to you, or raise money for Shelter, the official SwimBritain charity.

Follow the link to set up your fundraising page now and start getting your family and friends to raise money for a good cause. There’s no minimum amount you can raise and everything you do will make a difference.

Swimming packs, containing everything you need for the event, will be available for collection by your team’s leader on the day of your selected event.

Get in touch through our contact page and we’ll do our best to solve the problem.

If you haven’t got an email from us after you signed up, please check your spam/junk folder. Alternatively please contact us.

Yes you are able to enter multiple teams, though you will have to enter and pay twice. Also, you will need a different email address for each registration.

Your ticket includes four 30-minute coaching sessions at your local pool. These are designed to prepare you for the event at your own pace. If you choose SwimBritain:DIY the coaching won’t be available to you.

Find your nearest pool using our pool finder. Then get in touch with them to arrange your coaching sessions.

As long as you’ve signed up for an event, you can enjoy the four 30-minute coaching sessions. Accredited swimming coaches will be running these at a SwimBritain participating pool near you to help improve your swimming ability.

Your coaching voucher can only be redeemed at a participating pool. Over 150 pools will be taking part up and down the country. However, as your entry fee only covers part of the event we won’t be able to refund the coaching sessions if you can’t make them.

Our swimming stars have put together training materials to help you – from perfecting your swimming technique to what foods to eat. Find out more on our preparation page.

There are several companies you can hire a wetsuit from – one of these is www.hireawetsuit.co.uk - please enter code CENTRICAHIRE13 to qualify for a SwimBritain discount of 10%. If using www.hireawetsuit.co.uk please order your wetsuit by 01/08/13 to guarantee availability for the event. If you want to purchase a wetsuit, a 50% discount is available - please enter code BRITISH2013. You will have the choice of having the wetsuit posted to you, or collecting it at the event or at a coaching session (see below).

The four free coaching sessions you are entitled to as part of your registration are in-pool. These sessions will focus on (amongst other things) stroke technique as well as swimming around buoys, tips and advice. If you are taking part in the Blenheim Palace event and are interested in experiencing swimming in open water conditions, you are able to book open water coaching sessions through http://www.openwaterswimmingcoach.co.uk/. Please enter the discount code SWIMBG on the website to get the exclusive rate of £20 for the group sessions. You will be asked your ability when you sign up and will be split into groups of ability at the sessions. You are also offered the exclusive rate of £30 if you would like to take part in a one2one session – enter the discount code SWIMBG when you go to book.

If you want to hire a wetsuit for a coaching session there will be the option when you book your session to do this and collect it on the day. A day hire will cost £15 if you enter the CENTRICAHIRE13 code. If you want to hire or buy a wetsuit for longer than the one day period, please go directly to www.hireawetsuit.co.uk and follow the instructions above. A limited amount of non-allocated wetsuits will be available to hire on the day of the coaching sessions, but we cannot guarantee having your size so please book in advance.

You can pay for the event with any major credit and debit cards.

Limelight Sports are running the event on our behalf, which is why a shortened version of their name appears on your statement

Sign up only allows team leaders to pay for the events. If you are a team member, you will need to arrange payment with your team leader.

No. Payment must be made for your whole team by the team leader. You can finish signing up later, but your team’s place is only secured once you have paid.

If you’re a team leader, enter your British Gas customer number when you sign up. If you know that your other team members are British Gas customers, you can get a discount for them too. However, they must verify their customer number and address when they join your team. Family teams only need one customer account number to get the discount.

Sorry, we can’t offer any refunds. Please be completely sure that you want to sign up before you make the payment. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.

Sorry, but once the payment is made, we’re unable to offer the discount.

SwimBritain promises to be a fun-filled day out for everyone, with lots going on – in and out of the water. Before the swimming kicks off, teams will be briefed on how the relays will work. Remember to look out for the swimming stars!

You will need to be at the venue at least 45 minutes before your set start time. The event will be very busy, so allow enough time to travel there, register and pick up your race pack, get changed and store your belongings. For the pool events, please come prepared with your swimming kit underneath your clothes – to ensure a speedy changing room visit!

Sorry, but we cannot offer any refunds. However, you can transfer your place to another team member by changing your details online. Your personal profile can be edited up to two weeks before your event.

Yes. There will be facilities to change and shower, as well as safe storage for your belongings on the day.

Having friends, families and colleagues cheering on your team is all part of the SwimBritain fun. We will try and accommodate as many spectators at each venue as possible.

Each member of your team must wear a timing band during his or her swim. After each lap, you must touch into the timing pads. The chip attached to the timing band will be used to record your time. Timing bands will be provided in your race pack, which you collect on the day. All timing bands must be returned after you have completed your swim.

Results from your SwimBritain event should be displayed on the day for you to check how your team got on. They will also be on the site after the event.

Yes. Every swimmer receives a medal and a t-shirt on the day.

Yes, wetsuits are compulsory for the SwimBritain open water relay. A wetsuit provides extra buoyancy and warmth with the added bonus of making you slightly faster! We recommend that you try the wetsuit out before the event day, as it’s important to wear a well-fitting wetsuit for your swim!