After nearly six years at the helm of Swim England, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer Jane Nickerson has announced her retirement, effective at the end of 2023.
“I will be forever grateful and proud to have been able to have served Swim England as chief executive officer,” Nickerson said today.
“It has been a wonderful journey working alongside brilliant colleagues, team members, partners, volunteers, athletes, clubs – the list is endless.
Having been involved in Swim England in different roles for 25 years, Nickerson’s departure is not without controversy.
Stemming from the 2021 investigation into the storied Ellesmere Titan swim club in response to allegations of eating disorders, bullying and overall mental health issues affecting many of its swimmers, a subsequent independent review just released its finding on Swim England‘s conduct.
- Storied Ellesmere Titans Swim Club Set to Close Following Scathing Report
- Alan Bircher (Ellesmere Coach) Removed from British Swimming Staff for 2020 Olympic Games
Spurred by Sport England, who allocates an estimated £ 3 million (~$3.7 million USD) to Swim England annually, an independent review carried out by barrister Louis Weston specifically called out Nickerson for her overall ‘mismanagement’ of child safety issues, saying she ‘demonstrated a confusing and inconsistent approach to safeguarding and concern of child abuse in sport.’ (The Times UK)
Weston’s report also claims Swim England ‘blocked attempts to be held accountable and prevented any form of proper challenge to its decisions.’
Sport England reportedly initially considered cutting off the aforementioned annual funds to Swim England before the overriding body decided instead to review and reform SE. (The Times UK)
Part of the reform directives includes removing Swim England‘s CEO from the child safeguarding process entirely and appointing a new independent disciplinary officer by September.
The report by West is not yet finalized, however, Sport England said in the meantime, “We do expect that all recommendations and changes that the report makes will be accepted and acted upon without delay by Swim England.” (The Times UK)
Maybe the Bonnie & Clyde act of Jane Nickerson and her advisor Chris Bostock will finally be over.
I coached and still teach. I’m 62 years old and gave up any formal coaching a few years ago because I couldn’t put up with the way kids where singled out at an early age for thier performance and others just filled up the clubs coffers.
Children where a tool for the coaches success. My kids returned back from Northern Ireland with 22 National Qualifying times which change the rating of the coach, who had done nothing.
Swimming is a big money pit along with most sports and it’s not at all about sport for all.
Totally agree Bernie and so sad more coaches don’t see it like you. Most are using kids for their own ego and the rest are cast aside.
Definitely agree ‘Children being a tool for a coaches success’ – have seen numerous Coaches whose ego, forthright opinions and general superior demeanour vastly outweighs their limited talent – shouting and demeaning the children distracts, intentionally or otherwise, from their own shortcomings – however this minority should not deflect from the vast majority of wonderful volunteers that genuinely care and selflessly give up substantial amounts of time to bring enjoyment to so many and enable them to reach their true potential – which is why it is so sad that Swim England have not ‘bothered’ to weed out the minority
Agree with lots of what has been said. Coaches seem to leave places under euphemistic clouds and yet resurface elsewhere.
Seems easier to get shot quietly rather than look at preventing their involvement.
How is that looking to protect swimmers
I have been involved in swimming for years. Having tried to complain about coaches behaviour myself to my own club and even Swim England, it’s apparent that everyone is there to protect the coaches, no one protects the children. Most parents won’t complain as they know it affects the treatment of their kids. Either that or they try and they get worn down and just give up. I applaud the Ellesmere swimmers and parents who stood up, to get through the Swim England processes and to actually get them to listen and act. I know from experience how hard that is as there processes are designed to obstruct. Let’s hope after the review is complete that the whole complaints process… Read more »
Even they didn’t get Swim England to listen and act. They got Sport England to listen and act – and Sport England,which funds them, then got Swim England to act!
No you are wrong Sue the Lawyer. The ellesmere parents I am talking about, are the ones whose swimmers were abused by the coaches. Swim England imposed those sanctions and then went further and disaffiliated the club. This is where the times report is damaging as it’s conflating two issues and most people are now just confused – including yourself it seems – maybe that was that times journalists intention.
No I am not confused. Have you actually seen the Weston Report yourself or are you directly involved in the issues and just supporting your own side here? I have no personal interest in this myself whatsoever; my concern is that decisions are all made with proper processes, whether that be complaints against clubs and coaches or complaints by them, and to look at in a balanced way. The Times report appears very balanced to me – what is confusing people is the suggestion that the Report is only dealing with deficiencies in the process with the former type of complaint – it very much is not. The Report is in fact very critical of the disaffiliation decision and seriously… Read more »
Sorry – should have said was very critical of the PROCESS for the disaffiliation decision, but this also included going so far as to question whether there was in fact any basis for it given the independent finding that there were no current welfare concerns, which came very close to saying that it appeared to be a very odd and disproportionate decision.
Sorry, you are a lawyer and you are saying that even if kids were abused, it doesn’t matter because more weren’t and the ones who weren’t wanted to swim and couldn’t and this should be taken in to account?
Swim England has always been an anathema to me – an institution that appears to thrive on cronyism and nepotism and sometimes appoints on that basis – it would appear that this leads to a blind eye being applied to protocols and basic duties of care – having been involved in a Child Safeguarding complaint I was shocked by the level of protectionism, fluster, bluster and ‘nothing to see here guv’ attitude – the lack of understanding of the ‘Climate of Fear’ that pervades the sport was palpable but rather than addressing it – it was used as excuse not to investigate a complaint were the complainant wished anonymity or an independent hearing – once a complaint was received surely… Read more »
The culture of bullying by coaches and board members is definitely a huge problem in British swimming. I had a child who reached British Championship Level swimming and went through five Swim England swimming clubs. Sadly most had structural problems that had punitive effects on swimmers. In some cases the coaches themselves are victims of bullying by overly aggressive parents/board members. I witnessed all sorts of bullying/favoritism in the decade I spent taking my child to meets, counties, regionals, nationals, British Championships.
Some of the Swim England regional boards and county boards are also out of date, and run by entrenched bullies who favour bigger clubs over smaller ones etc. I had a long battle with one particular region,… Read more »
What needs to be remembered is that there are two distinct, but inextricably linked issues here. Firstly is the alleged events, and secondly, and vitally important is the processes used by Swim England, from investigation to issuing appropriate sanction.
With the review of only THREE cases the report suggests that Swim England have completely failed in providing a fair and transparent way to deal with concerns- what else would be revealed with a larger enquiry?. It appears from this report that these failings are unlikely to be debatable.
Process has been deeply flawed- up until this week our experience has been that there has been no way in which you were able to raise a complaint about Swim… Read more »
This point about a review based only on three cases is important. It was pointed out before the review was done that while a review of 3 cases could identify lots of problems there were others with the procedures that would not be pulled up, and I intend to contact Sport England specifically about where there are still gaps and important procedural problems, once the full report is out.
What needs to be remembered is that there are two distinct, bit inextricably linked issues here. Firstly is the alleged events, and secondly, and vitally important is the processes used by Swim England, from investigation to issuing appropriate sanction.
With the review of only THREE cases the report has shown is that Swim England have completely failed in providing a fair and transparent way to deal with concerns- what else would be revealed with a larger enquiry?. It appears from this report that these failings are unlikely to be debatable.
Process has been deeply flawed- up until this week there has been no way in which you were able to raise a complaint about Swim England or any… Read more »
See my comment above, which I meant to post here not above. Sorry!
I agree with all you say but they are NOT alleged events, what makes you say that? These coaches were abusive and they did not appeal their sanctions.