Equipment Officer, but her superpower seems to be fundraising.
She admits to being an organised person and motivated to solve problems.“ Our club was struggling to recruit new members so at first I set up social media pages and promoted try dives to increase activity at our pool sessions,” Julie says.
Mercian Divers had had a grant application in the pending file for a few years. Now retired, and with the luxury of time on her hands, Julie decided to go through the application process. She applied to the Movement Fund at Sport England and secured a grant for £ 4,750
Between continental plates at Silfra, Iceland
Julie with Diving Officer husband Phil Turney
FAVOURITEKIT
My Fourth Element dive skins are
“ excellent for warm water diving and allow freedom of movement while giving me protection. They are made from recycled ghost fishing line and are still going strong after 15 years.
” to be used to set up the snorkel section at the club. The grant covered pool hire fees, instructor training, equipment and promotional material.
“ I have particularly enjoyed developing the snorkel section,” she says.“ I just love seeing the pool full on a Monday evening with a snorkel lane, two swimming lanes and the other half of the pool full for scuba trainees and try dives.
Following on from the success of the Sport England grant, she started looking around for other grants to apply for. The local council had funds available.“ I demonstrated our club’ s ethos was rooted in inclusivity and community spirit and that the grant would directly support removing the barriers to participation in our sport,” she says.“ By training more instructors the club will be able offer increased opportunities to children, young people and adults, including those from under-represented or disadvantaged backgrounds.
“ Our club has already demonstrated success supporting young people with additional needs such as ADHD, helping them to progress and consolidate their training at their pace and working closely with their supervising dive doctor.”
Julie secured £ 3,000 to train four Open Water Instructors, progress the club’ s
Sally, Julie, Phil and Rachel Nicholls snorkel instructor training and purchase more equipment. She is now working on two further grant applications; one from a major housing developer who wishes to invest in community projects and one from a local councillor who has an annual budget to gift local charities and causes.
By volunteering at Mercian Divers, Julie has developed new skills, made new friends, improved her own physical and mental health and wellbeing, built up her confidence, connected with others in the community and improved her club.
Her advice to other dive clubs is to get their younger members( as they are the future of the club) to shadow older members in a selection of club roles. Also to get all club members on board with recruiting.“ We offered an incentive to anyone who would put up promotional posters around the community,” she says.
“ We work hard to retain our members’ interest, with monthly sessions on subjects including knot tying, CPR training and equipment cleaning and maintenance,” she says. Julie’ s advice to prospective members comes in the form of an invitation:“ Why not come and spend an evening at our club and see what we get up to? Find us on Facebook and see how much fun we have while gaining diving knowledge.” �
Become an Instructor!
Sports Divers and up( for scuba) and 16 + year olds( for snorkelling) can start instructor training.
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Or visit bsac. com / instruct 49