- Organisation supported: John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Auckland
- Project details: Support for The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation's Community Swim Programme, which aims to provide free swimming and water safety lessons to children in South Auckland.
- Four Winds Foundation grant funding allocated: $75,000.
The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation’s Community Swim Programme continues to deliver life-saving water skills to children in South and East Auckland, thanks to support from the Four Winds Foundation.
In Term 4 of 2024, the programme reached an impressive 4,640 children across 23 schools, delivering a total of 37,120 lessons. Over the 2024 year-to-date, the impact is even greater; 19,905 children have participated, receiving 159,240 free swimming lessons.
According to Rick Pickard, General Manager of the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, this achievement would not have been possible without the ongoing backing of partners like Four Winds.
“The support of the Four Winds Foundation is truly valued as it is enabling us to meet the schools' demands with the increase in their roll numbers,” says Rick. “It simply is the kids, in Auckland’s area of greatest need, who are benefitting.”
The Community Swim Programme provides more than just lessons; it covers transport, pool and lane hire, and professional instructors, ensuring no barriers stand between a child and essential water safety skills.
The programme operates from Ōtāhuhu to Papakura, and has faced increasing pressure due to population growth and school roll increases.
“We’ve had to be very strategic,” Rick says. “The $75,000 in funding from Four Winds enables more than 20,000 water skills for life lessons to be delivered. That’s a tangible impact, measurable down to the dollar.”
The Community Swim Programme is soon to reach a significant milestone, Rick continues: “We are on track to deliver our 2 millionth free swimming lesson later this year. This will be a huge celebration as we reach this incredible milestone.”
The impact of this programme is felt deeply across the community, equipping tamariki with vital skills and confidence in the water.
“This is about inclusion and opportunity,” says Rick. “Every child, regardless of ability or circumstance, deserves this chance. We’re about helping every child strive to be their best, and we couldn’t do it without partners like Four Winds Foundation backing us where it counts most.”
