Supporting Deaf Swimmers: A £500 Boost from Stourbridge Rotary

We're proud to announce a generous £500 donation from Stourbridge Rotary Club, that will fund vital equipment to support young deaf swimmers — including nine-year-old Ted York, a rising star who recently made his competitive debut with GB Deaf Swimming Club.

Ted, who was born deaf and received cochlear implants at 18 months old, holds an S15 classification for swimmers with hearing impairments. His passion for swimming has flourished, and he competed at the GB Deaf national championships in April this year.

Thanks to the Rotary Club’s donation, the club will purchase a secondary strobe light system — a game-changing piece of kit that allows deaf swimmers to visually detect the starting signal during races. Until now, Ted has relied on shoulder taps or trained with his implants in place, both of which can cause delays that matter more as swimmers improve their times.

“It’s wonderful that the Rotary Club have chosen to support the club and spend the money on this kit,” said Lee York, Ted’s father. “It will make a huge difference to Ted in races, allowing him to start as everyone else.”

Julia Savage, former President of Stourbridge Rotary Club and a past club swimmer herself, shared her joy at reconnecting with the club:

“It was a great pleasure to come back and see the wonderful work they’re doing. It’s very clear that it isn’t just about swimming — they’ve built a thriving community for children of all ages to enjoy.”

Ann Pollard, Chair of Stourbridge Swimming Club, echoed the club’s commitment to equity and inclusion:

“Purchasing this new kit is part of our equity plan to ensure all children — regardless of age, ability or background — have the opportunity to enjoy competitive swimming.”

The new strobe system will help Ted and other deaf swimmers compete on equal footing with their hearing peers, reinforcing the club’s mission to make swimming accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all.