Wild Swim Relay FAQs

The swimming starts at midday and ends at midday (Jesus Green is 7pm - 7am). Please arrive 2 hours before to get yourself set up and ready for the first swimmer to be in the water.

There will be a briefing for all swimmers at 11:30am (6:30pm at Jesus Green). Please have as many swimmers present as possible. We’ll be sending out the briefing beforehand.

Swimmers can leave the site and return for their stint. They do not need to stay all day.

The 12/24 hours are split into 1 hour stints. This is a strict set up to help us know who’s in the water at any time. You can swim for longer than an hour, but you must exit the water and re-sign in to continue.

You do not have to stick to any swimming order.

There will be a full water safety and waterside crew on site for the 12/24 hours along with a medical tent and medical staff.

There will be toilets on site, including disabled toilets.

Please bring your own food and drink. These will be available on the day but with a limited selection.

We’ll have a photographer on site. If you don’t want to be included in the event photography please let us know on the day.

The event is not timed. There are no losers. We are all winners.

The captain will need to sign up first by following the links on the event page on levelwater.org.

The entry fee is for each swimmer.

They will receive a payment receipt email, a confirmation email and an email to forward on to the rest of the team.

Each team mate needs to click the link in the email and they’ll be automatically added to the team.

Or you can click the ‘join a team’ button find your team in the list. You’ll need the team code from your captain to confirm your spot.

Follow the link in the confirmation email to set up your JustGiving page and you’re ready to start fundraising!

Once your captain has registered they can forward on the email with the link to join the team - or simply send you the team code and you can sign up through our website.

It’s a simple as that!

Let us know if you’d like to swim and your team needs more members. There’ll be plenty of people in the same boat and we can try to match you up.

Yes, each ticket comes with a £200 fundraising target to raise money for children with disabilities to learn to swim. (The target may vary for 12hr swimmers)

This means that each swimmer is providing 13 lessons to make sure swimming is accessible for everyone.

We send you loads of tips and tricks to get you to your target. You can also work as team with your fundraising.

There’ll be plenty of measures in place to make sure all swimmers are safe. From canoes out on the lake, lifeguards on the side, first aid close by and plenty of motivation and encouragement from us.

As mentioned above, please bring a tow float, lights (1 white and 1 coloured per team) and a whistle. This is so we can easily spot you at night and you can draw attention to yourself if you get into any difficulties.

I mean you’re not competing against anyone but yourself. It’s an endurance event and we don’t count lengths or distance.

The challenge is how far you can push yourself through the tiredness. Through the cold. How you can support each other through the harder hours.

The most important thing to bring along is warm clothes because you might get cold. And make sure to bring plenty of food and drink for the duration.

You’ll also want to try and grab a nap in between your swims so sleeping bags and small tents are essential. You’ll have a few hours between your swims so there’s plenty of time to nip off for a nap.

You will need a tow float and light so we can keep an eye on you at night. We can help you source them if you don’t already have them.

It’s up to you what you wear to swim in. You can wear a wetsuit if you like or brave it in a costume (simply fill in the skin swimmer form to swim at night without a wetsuit- there’s no approval process for this, we just need your name on our list). You can use flippers or hand paddles to help you along.

Yes, you can come and go as you need as the site will be open throughout the event.

We’d like as many swimmers as possible to come to the briefing 30 mins before the first swim, but if you can’t make it it’s not a problem.

No, only the first swimmer needs to register before the event starts. The rest of the team can come to the registration desk at any time before their first swim.

Swimming at night is magical. It’s a special experience with the stars, the lights and plenty of other swimmers around to chat to.

We understand that it can be scary. But we guarantee as soon as you’ve done it once you’ll keep going back.

We have a full safety crew on the water at all times so you’re never alone.

You’ll also have 2 lights - 1 on your head and 1 on your tow-float so you can be seen at all times.

No, it’s up to your team to make the schedule and you can swim in any order. If you’d rather swim in the day time you’re welcome to organise your shifts however you like.

No, if you need to please get out of the lake but make sure you check-out with a volunteer so we know you’re safe.

If you feel unwell at any time during the event please speak to our water safety crew or medical team immediately.

It’s up to your team to make the schedule and you can swim in any order.

It could be that one team member swims 5 of your hours and another only 3 - it’s completely up to you to organise your schedule.

Yes you can swim as many hours as you like. Please check out and back in again with our volunteers so we know that you are safe.

If you’re swimming solo we’ll give you a call before the event to ask if you’d prefer to stay in the water. You’ll still need to speak to our safety team each hour for a wellness check.

Yes, please let the volunteers know if you are swimming for another team so we can count you and we know no-one is missing.

if you get cold please get out of the lake but make sure you check-out with a volunteer so we know you’re safe.

If you feel unwell at any time during the event please speak to our water safety crew or medical team immediately.

We will provide a firepit, hot water for drinks and water bottles and even a warming tent in the cooler months (looking at you September…)

Yes, you’re welcome to swim any stroke you like!

Although, backstroke may result in some collisions so please avoid that one.

You’ll set up a little camping village for your team at the lake.

Bring your own tents, chairs and food and settle in for an amazing experience. How often can you camp at such a beautiful lake?

The campground is first come first served so the first member of your team to arrive will need to save enough space for all of you.

Please be aware that at some lakes camping space is limited, so don’t be greedy and make sure your neighbours have enough room too.

At Jesus Green Lido you can only bring one 2-person tent per team.

Camping on Friday night is only available at Trifarm because of the earlier start.

It depends on the event. Most Wild Swim Relay sites will have separate tent and campervan areas. Please check your swimmer hub for the site map of your event.

Please respect that this is to keep everyone safe and to make the best use of the space we have.

At our 24hr swims yes, but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Don’t forget your poo bags as there will be lots of bare feet around.

At Jesus Green Lido we don’t recommend bringing your dog.