The Lifesaving Society's Canadian Swim-to-Survive® Standard
defines the essential minimum skills required to survive
an unexpected fall into deep water. The Society recognizes that
there is a wide range of aquatic training well beyond this
minimum.
The Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive Program consists
of:
- 3 in-water lessons of 1 hr. each, focusing on a sequence of 3
skills: Roll entry - Tread water 1 min. - Swim 50 m
- 3 in-classroom water safety lessons.
What is a Swim to Survive School Program grant?
A Swim to Survive grant may only be used to help provide a
minimum of 3 in-water Swim to Survive lessons to Grade 3 children
within an elementary school program, during school hours. Grant
funds may be used to help defray the costs of:
- transporting students between school and pool
- instructor costs
- aquatic facility rental costs
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The Lifesaving Society aims to reach as many Ontario Grade 3
students as possible with Swim to Survive training. Because grant
funds are limited, the Society is relying upon the generosity of
participating school boards and their partners to support this
program with matching service and in-kind sponsorship.
Who may apply for a grant?
Any Ontario school board with its own aquatic facilities is
eligible to apply. So too is a partnership of school boards or
schools with others like regional governments, municipalities, and
aquatic facilities. We encourage all Ontario school boards to
apply. The Lifesaving Society will accept applications from
individual elementary schools in districts where the school board
is not participating.
How are grants approved?
A Lifesaving Society selection committee determines grant
recipients on the basis of the criteria outlined below. The
Lifesaving Society will allocate grants across the 6 Ontario
Ministry of Education regional areas:
- Toronto and Area
- Ottawa
- North Bay/Sudbury
- London
- Barrie
- Thunder Bay
Effort will be made to allocate grants within each region to
both rural and urban locations, separate and public school boards,
English and French school boards.
Evaluation criteria
The Lifesaving Society will only fund applicants who have the
capacity to execute the Swim to Survive School Program
successfully.
Priority is given to:
- incorporated organizations such as school boards, schools,
municipalities, YMCAs
- boards and schools with confirmed access to aquatic
facilities
- applicants with additional cash or in-kind support for
transportation, facility and instructional staff costs in addition
to the Lifesaving Society grant
In reviewing applications, the Lifesaving Society
evaluates:
- Community support including volunteer time, contributions from
other organizations, cash or in-kind support from corporate
sponsors or individual donors.
- Grant-per-student ratio. Because the Society aims to deliver
survival training to as many students as possible, the
grant-per-student becomes an important factor in maximizing the
impact of the available funds. A grant request for $5 per student
is low and excellent. A grant request for $10 per student is fair.
A grant request for more than $15 per student is high. The Society
seeks applicants with maximum facility grant requests of $40 per
hour and maximum instructional staff grant requests of $15 per
hour.
- Ability to provide proof of insurance coverage for participants
during transportation and during in-water lessons.
When may I apply?
The Lifesaving Society accepts applications on or before the
deadline dates below. We confirm approval in writing within 6 weeks
of receipt of the applications and post the names of successful
applicants on our website.
Application Deadlines
Deadline: May 18, 2012
Notification: June 27, 2012
May I apply more than once?
Yes. Applicants may apply again, but not for the same students
who were funded previously.
How do I apply?
Send the completed
application form to:
Lifesaving Society Swim to Survive School Program
400 Consumers Road
Toronto, Ontario M2J 1P8
Attention: Sindy Parsons
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When is grant money paid?
The Lifesaving Society releases grant funds only after
completion of the Swim to Survive Program and once the Society has
received the required final reports:
- Swim to Survive worksheets signed by the instructor(s)
- Activity Report signed by the contact for the board of
education / school
- Activity Report signed by the contact for the aquatic
facility
The Society will also be looking for the feedback forms from the
school teacher(s) and swim instructor(s). Feedback forms from
participants and their parents are also welcome.
Note: The Society's Swim to Survive Schools
Program is supported with public funds and may be audited by the
Government of Ontario. All Swim to Survive grant applications are
public documents that may be reviewed by auditors of boards of
education, municipalities or viewed by media.
Where does the grant money come from?
Barbara Underhill's Stephanie Gaetz KEEPSAFE Foundation is the
Founding Sponsor of the Swim to Survive Program. The Ontario
Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health Promotion have
provided substantial funding. The Jays Care Foundation, the
Lifesaving Foundation, individual donors and the Lifesaving Society
itself have provided additional funding.
Questions?
If you have questions about the program or application,
contact:
Sindy Parsons
Lifesaving Society Public Education Manager
Phone - 416-490-8844
Fax - 416-490-8766
Application Deadline: January 26, 2012
Notification Deadline: March 9, 2012