主播大秀

The 主播大秀 Get Inspired Unsung Hero award has been recognising the remarkable achievements of people throughout the UK since 2003. Here, coach Jill Stidever (pictured), who won the award in 2014 after a lifetime helping children learn to swim, shares her experiences.

I've always been interested in helping people who find things difficult, regardless of what it is. For 40 odd years I’ve basically been playing in water with children who've got extra physical and visual needs and at the same time encouraging them to swim.

To be honest, I sort of fell into it. People started saying “Ask Jill, she'll help you”. I have a daughter who also happens to have cerebral palsy and learning difficulties, so the involvement expanded with her as well.

These days I’m often contacted by people who've tried what they feel is everything in their neighbourhood and are still not succeeding with their particular member of the family that has difficulties. I suppose, they’re looking for a magical step forward, which some people have recommended I might have.  I don't think I have anything different from many other people. What we do in our club isn't magic. Many people have skills to help but often lack the confidence to try. 

The main challenge is that our swimmers don't necessarily learn in the prescribed way. You have to be able to see what they do naturally and then try and turn that into something that is useful in a swimming pool. It may simply be learning to blow toys across the water or moving their legs in a different way where they can get propulsion, there are lots of little things that can help but you do have to watch closely. Observation is key, well, observation and fun. Be prepared to do silly things.

I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly patient person – I’m able to repeat things, but that’s about it. Teaching our swimmers takes a certain amount of creative thinking, although having said that, I wouldn’t say I’m creative either - I can't make things, but in water I am able to think outside the box.

How long it takes to have an effect on a child depends entirely on the individual and the support they have. I took on one lad who I thought would take about three years to learn to move independently in the water, well, I was wrong. He grew more determination and more trust in what we were doing and learnt to swim in a matter of months.

It’s not just about the children, I work closely with parents because I believe they want to know what we're doing, so they can continue it, certainly if they go away on holiday. It’s not unusual for me to be showing a parent a little idea and then literally just hand the child back and say, ‘go on give it a try’ so there's no time for them to say I can't, they've just got to get on with it. Out of the water too, parents learn from each other about where to turn for help in a variety of situations, forming long lasting support and friendships.

All too often people say, ‘we can't do this, we can't take them swimming, we can't get them changed, we can't get them in the water’ - everything is negative. Myself, and all my instructors, try to be as positive as we possibly can. I think it gives the children increased self-confidence, and shows them they can succeed, especially if they become proficient swimmers.

One of our girls, who came to us when she was 15 years old, has now done an apprenticeship in leisure management, in which she had to qualify as a lifeguard, which they didn't think she would succeed in doing, but she did, and it opened up the world of work to her. Lots of people have gone on and done absolutely superbly, but all of them got so much extra just through being part of something that's given them increased self-esteem, friendship, a sport for life and opened so many doors for them. It has a knock on effect, there's so much the sport can give.

There are hundreds of other volunteers who do superb work in all fields, so when I was given the Unsung Hero Award I thought, ‘Why me?’ The only answer I got back was, 'cos you're Jill' from one of my coaches. I feel very honoured. When the 主播大秀 asked if I have other awards as result of the work, I said I've been rewarded for it in different ways, locally, and an honour from the Queen, all completely unexpected, because I just enjoy what I'm doing.

It was something I never thought of before. I'd watch the awards because I am interested in sport, but I was completely surprised by the effect it had with people I didn't know. I had hundreds of messages, emails, and cards. One was from someone whose child I helped 54 years ago.

People in the supermarket who I'd never met wanted to talk to me about what I do. One that stands out was a gentleman who walked past me and suddenly stopped and said, 'I’ve got to come back and shake your hand - it is you isn't it?’ To begin with I didn't believe he was stopping for me. Another time was in a hospital car park, as I was rushing to admit my daughter, and a person shouted, 'Hey, lady!' two or three times - I didn't think he was talking to me, until he shouted: 'Swimming lady, stop'. He wanted to talk about the programme. I thought if it had that effect on people I didn't know, from different cultural groups, how well the information about disability sport must be spreading. It was very humbling.

Since the award, our club has ended up with a lot more swimmers, although there is still a tremendous need for people to take people with autism, a disability we don't really concentrate on. We've also gained more volunteers, not only for swimming but admin too – someone is helping with the books, someone else trying to help us gain charity status, which is amazing because I'm confident in water, but not so much use at writing minutes or organising fundraisers. 

I think the greatest effect of the award is being able to spread the word. You can highlight what you're doing, and enlighten others. You'll find that there are extra people who never thought that they'd got something to offer until they hear about you. It might be that you're talking to a small group, or a large group, but there's often someone there that you find is  thinking: 'Oh I could have a go at that, I might be able to help'.

Jill Stidever is a swimming coach and recipient of the 主播大秀 Unsung Hero award 2014

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