DS Swim - Performance Coaching

22/07/2026

🌟 Swimmer Profile: Connie 🌟

A huge congratulations to former DS Swim swimmer Connie, who has won gold in the 50m Butterfly at the British Swimming ‘Next Gen’ National Championships! 🥇🦋

Connie began her swimming journey in the DS Swim Learn to Swim Academy and also attended our Performance Coaching sessions when she was younger.

She is one of several swimmers who have progressed through our academy before going on to achieve success at club level. Connie now swims for Derby Excel Swimming Club, and we are delighted to see her performing so brilliantly on the national stage.

Swimming success clearly runs in the family too! Connie’s older brother, Finn, was also a DS Swim swimmer and attended our Performance Coaching sessions. He also became a British Champion, specialising in the individual medley events.

Congratulations, Connie — we are incredibly proud to have played a part in your swimming journey! 💙

13/07/2026

🎉 Celebrating 20 Years of DS Swim! 🎉
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the start of DS Swim — from those first sessions back in July 2006 in Nottingham to the Learn to Swim Academy and Performance Coaching programmes we run today.
Over the last 20 years, we’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of swimmers learn, improve, perform and achieve — from first strokes and water confidence, through to competitive swimmers reaching county, regional, national and international level.
A huge thank you to every swimmer, parent, teacher, coach and supporter who has been part of the DS Swim journey so far. Whether you joined us for your child’s first swimming lesson, specialist 1:1 coaching, performance training, or stroke clinics, you’ve all played a part in building what DS Swim is today.
Here’s to 20 years of swimming, progress, confidence and achievement — and to everything still to come. 💦
DS Swim — Est. 2006

10/07/2026

Imagining DS Swim in a Lego world!

04/07/2026

Dave spent this morning working with swimmers from Kettering Swimming Club on a Freestyle and Breaststroke Masterclass.
Some fantastic improvements make in the 1 hour 45 minute session and all the swimmers enjoyed themselves!

17/06/2026

27/05/2026

Extra date added next Thursday 4th June at Wellow.
7-8 and 8-9pm currently available.
Book online at dsswim.simplybook.it

22/05/2026

At DS Swim we pay significantly more in VAT than we take in profit from our swimming lessons, which reduces the amount we can reinvest into our facilities and teacher training, and leads to us having to charge higher prices than we otherwise would do.
Please write to your mp and ask them to support this campaign (click the link for more information and a letter template - it only takes a few minutes). Your support is very much appreciated.

STA to Raise the Question of VAT on Children’s Swimming Lessons with MPs Again Dave Candler FCIMSPA (Ch) 22nd May 2026 Following yesterday’s announcement regarding temporary VAT reductions on family attractions and summer activities, we will once again be writing to MPs to ask Government to cons...

30/04/2026

🏊‍♀️ Swimmer Profile: Selina

Pictured with her 4 medals from the South East Regional Championships this weekend 🥇🥇🥈🥉

Selina started her journey in the DS Swim Learn to Swim Academy, progressed through our programme into our competitive squad, and—despite relocating to Oxfordshire—has continued working with Dave Sankey through our Performance Coaching programme.

She’s a fantastic example of what long-term, high-quality teaching and coaching can achieve—going from a beginner to one of the top swimmers in the country 🇬🇧