Meet the Team

Joanne has been the Pool Manager for Swimstart since before it existed which is over 20 years ago now! Joanne was part of the team which successfully negotiated for the then Silsden Parish Council to take over responsibilty for the pool eventually separating and registering as a Charity, becoming Swimstart. As well as many Finance and Business Qualifications, Joanne is also a qualified Swimming Instructor and holds the STA Level 2 Water Treatment qualification. Joanne's two sons both learnt to swim with Swimstart Fun fact: Joanne is Sir Andy Murray's biggest fan! Don't even think of trying to book your child in for lessons if Sir Andy's on court 😉

Jo has worked for Swimstart since 2003. Jo is responsible for booking children into weekly and private lessons. Jo delights in organising the holiday course lessons and also handles all the certificates given out by our instructors. Jo holds the STA Level 2 Water Treatment qualification. Jo's three daughters all learned to swim with Swimstart. Fun fact: Jo is a massive Take That fan 🙂

Lewis is one of three new lifeguards joining us after Easter 2021 and is looking forward to helping children learn how to swim. Lewis used to swim with Skipton Swimming Club until Covid-19 started. Lewis likes hanging out with his friends and his favourite colour is blue. Interesting fact: Lewis has started acting lessons and would like to be an actor one day 🎞🎭

Charllotte has worked for Swimstart since September 2014. Charllotte is a qualified Swimming Instructor, Lifeguard & Pool Technician. Charllotte's favourite part of being an instructor is watching a scared child grow in confidence until they can swim, the smile on their face is priceless & also how proud their parents are. Fun fact: Charllotte's favourite colour is green and her favourite food is cake 🍰!

Isabel is our newest Lifeguard and just started working for us this year. Isabel has a current lifeguarding qualification. Fun Fact: Isabel would like to be a globetrotting journalist travelling around the world for her career.

Lucie has been working for Swimstart as a Lifeguard since July 2020. Lucie says "I absolutely love working for Swimstart & seeing the children learn to swim and become comfortable in the water". Fun fact: Lucie loves singing and when she grows up she'd like to work in the arts.

Millie has worked for Swimstart since October 2016. Millie works as a Lifeguard and also, most recently, as a Hygiene Officer. Fun fact: Millie enjoys running with her mum and does a mean impression of Mary Berry with her baking 🙂

Vanessa has worked for Swimstart since October 2003. Vanessa is a Lifeguard and also works as a Hygiene Officer. Vanessa has three sons and a daughter who have all learned to swim with Swimstart. Fun fact: Vanessa is never happier than when she's shopping or sitting on a beach with her family 🙂

Rachel has worked for Swimstart since January 2005 and is a qualified Instructor and Lifeguard. Rachel is Swimstart's Senior Pool Technician and also works as a Hygiene Officer. Fun Fact: Rachel enjoys the outdoors in her spare time, walking and climbing with her family. She recently started gun dog training with her 2 dogs Ted and Daisy.

Olivia is one of three new lifeguards starting after Easter 2021. Olivia is a very keen netball player who has an obsession with vampire diaries. Olivia has two older sisters who both worked for Swimstart as lifeguards as well. Fun fact: Olivia's favourite animal is a penguin 🐧.

Liz has been working for Swimstart since summer 2020. Liz is a qualified Instructor and Lifeguard and also works as a Hygiene Officer. Fun fact: Liz loves wild water swimming in rock pools!

Gaby has worked for Swimstart since January 2020.

Jodie has worked for Swimstart as a Lifeguard since April 2018. Fun fact: Jodie plays football for Skipton Girls U18 and Skipton ladies ⚽.

Vicky has worked for Swimstart since January 2008. Vicky is a qualified Instructor, Lifeguard and Pool Technician. Vicky also works as a Hygiene Officer. Vicky says "What I enjoy most about my job is giving my swimmers a life skill. I love their little faces when they realise they can swim without armbands. Getting a child with very little confidence swimming is the best feeling in the world"! Fun Fact: Vicky loves zumba and spends the rest of her spare time taking her daughter to football.

Karen has been working for Swimstart since September 2017. Karen works as a Lifeguard. Karen really enjoys seeing the babies experiencing their first special swims with mums, dads and grandparents. Karen's special place is Italy. She loves the food, wine and cities. Fun fact: She once spotted Brian May (of Queen) at the Trevi fountain in Rome!! She was actually on the look out for George Clooney...! 🙂

Emily has worked for Swimstart as a Lifeguard since May 2019. Fun fact: Emily loves pasta and garlic bread and her favourite animals are monkeys 🙂

Maya has worked for Swimstart since July 2016. Maya is a qualified Lifeguard and also works more recently as a Hygiene Officer. Fun fact: Maya's name is Mexican in origin and Maya loves Mexican food 🥟🌯🍴.