Joanna Borthwick
Jo is the first instructor that the Jack Rabbit Foundation has had the pleasure of sponsoring alongside Olivia, the co-founder of the Jack Rabbit Foundation, to be trained in Pediaswim in February 2017. Jo has been a swimming teacher for many years and is a qualified ASA/STA coach.
She is based in Rushall in Wiltshire and conducts all her lessons in private pools in the surrounding area in small classes. To contact Jo for lessons you can email her at jo@joborthwick.com or call her on 07809 440 909. Hayley Steevens
Hayley Steevens trained with Joy at Pediaswim in August 2017 and now teaches back in Wiltshire. Hayley is a qualified swimming instructor and is a qualified ASA/STA coach and is based in the Devizes area. Hayley has now joined forces with Jo Borthwick and can be contacted at admin@jonorthwick.com or you can all her on 07788 211 371. Below is a letter that Hayley has written to the supporters of the Jack Rabbit Foundation. Open letter to supporters of the Jack Rabbit Foundation... My name is Hayley and I would like to share with you my story and how some of the money you donate to the Jack Rabbit Foundation gets used... This time last year I was browsing social media when I came across a video of Olivia and Jo teaching infants to self-save. I was amazed to find they were working just a few miles from my house. Curious, I got In touch to have a look at their course, immediately impressed I enrolled my one year old son. I got to know Olivia and quizzed her on her time in Florida. I had a hundred questions. I was already a swimming instructor but despite going through all the training by our nationally recognised amateur swimming association I had never been taught how to teach toddlers or babies and water safety skills were only vaguely discussed. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought a career in swimming would lead to a month long visit to America. The Jack Rabbit Foundation sent me to Florida where I trained with Joy McGinty on her Pediaswim course. Joy is a pinnacle in her community, her pool is a social hub for the hundreds of children and teenagers that swim there daily. Her staff have the upmost respect for her and I met parents who frequently sang their praises for her teaching methods and commitment to the safety and education of her charges. I trained in the pool for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for a month, I remember every child I taught. I learnt more in that month than all the other courses I’ve participated in. I returned with confidence in my abilities, a head full of techniques and a new view on how to effectively teach our children how to enjoy, respect and understand the water. It’s with the greatest thanks to Olivia, Nigel and all of you who support the Jack Rabbit Foundation that I had such an opportunity. And now, nearly 12 months after first seeing that video online I am joining them in teaching these skills to our next generation of little swimmers. I love my job. Many thanks for your time, support and generosity. Hayley |