The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) will be encouraging UK leisure centres to host events for its 2005 National Get Safe for Summer roadshow.

The first Get Safe for Summer campaign, which took place last year, taught thousands of schoolchildren essential water safety skills.

The 2005 roadshow aims to alert both children and their teachers to the dangers of open water and has the support Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry along with ASA mascot Tony the Tiger, the British Canoe Union, the Amateur Rowing Association and the Royal Yachting Association.

The ASA also recently launched a new National Teaching Plan for Swimming at Sedgefield Borough’s Newton Aycliffe leisure centre and held its annual Swimtastic Gala Awards – honouring those who have made exceptional achievements in swimming – at Stratford’s Moat House Hotel.

Guests at the teaching plan launch included the Mayor of Sedgefield Borough Cllr Marie Predki and British Olympian and Commonwealth Champion Chris Cook. Demonstrations of the different stages of the technique-based scheme were given at the launch, which is currently run across Sedgefield’s three swimming pools.

The ASA awards scheme, in conjunction with Kellogg’s Frosties, is one of the largest in British sport with around two million awards issued around the world each year.

Patrick Bromley – a severely handicapped young boy who needs a special vest to maintain his body temperature in the water – was one recipient of a Swimtastic Award, as was DC Leisure, which was recognised for its dedication to delivering the highest standard of swimming teaching.

Kate Brazier, commercial director at the ASA, said: “The ASA Awards Scheme has helped swimmers like Patrick for many decades and funds for its awards scheme are channelled back into the promotion of grass roots swimming.” Details: +44 (0)1527 514 288