Dip for a Difference

NOWCA’s Sub10 Club: 1 November until 31 March

Turn Your Winter Swims Into Life-Changing Impact

Thank you for choosing to Dip for a Difference with Level Water

By joining the cold water community this winter, you're not only embracing the physical and mental health benefits of swimming in water below 10°C, you're also supporting disabled children across the UK to experience the power of swimming.disabilities.

Set Up Your JustGiving Page

To track your fundraising and unlock prizes, set up your JustGiving page here. Once created, share it with friends and family—many of our swimmers find special occasions like birthdays are a great opportunity to ask for donations.

£15 pays for one swimming lesson, so your network can help a child learn to swim while celebrating your cold water achievements.

Set up your fundraising page

Raise £75 before 31 December 2025, and be entered into the prize draw to win a fabulous Red Equipment changing robe worth £160!

The Power of Your Swimming…

At Level Water, we provide 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities because we believe every child deserves the joy and freedom of swimming. Thanks to swimmers like you, we deliver over 40,000 lessons every year at 200+ pools nationwide.

These lessons go beyond teaching a life-saving skill, they help children build strength, confidence, and a love for the water, transforming their lives in ways that truly matter.

Without you, we simply couldn't do this work.

Thank you, your support means everything.

The Sub10 Club: Your Winter Swimming Community

The Sub10 Club is NOWCA's cold water community that swims through winter when water temperatures drop below 10°C. The ethos is simple: help and support like-minded swimmers and enjoy the benefits of cold water swimming in a safe setting.

There are no minimum or maximum swim requirements, no timed swims, and no distance targets. This is about connecting with others, building your cold water confidence, and celebrating each dip you take—all while making a difference for children with

Set up your fundraising page

Fundraising Prizes: Making Your Swims Count

Here's where it gets exciting. As you’ve registered for Dip for a Difference, every pound you raise for Level Water unlocks amazing prizes AND funds swimming lessons for children with disabilities.

  • Sign up

    You’ll receive a Level Water welcome pack through the post - a pink post card and swim hat for all your cold water adventures! This will have a link to your swimmer hub where you can find all the info you need about winter swimming and fundraising.

  • £15

    You’ve funded your first swimming lesson! To celebrate NOWCA will enter you into their prize draw. 5 lucky winners will receive a t shirt, a towfloat, a swim hat and more. Winners will be drawn on the 1 April 2026.

  • £75

    You’re going strong now! We’ll enter you into the prize draw to win one of Red’s fabulous changing robes. (To be eligible you will have raised £75 before 31st December 2025)

  • £100

    You’ve hit your fundraising target! We’ll send you a coveted Level Water beanie for your wonderful efforts.

  • £200

    Wow! £200 - you’ve doubled your fundraising target. We will send you a 10l Red equipment dry bag to take on your swim-ventures.

  • £300

    You have raised 20 lessons for a child with a disability in 2026. Thank you so much - keep an eye on the post for a personal handwritten golden postcard from Ian, our CEO and Founder.

Set up your fundraising page

Fundraising Tips, Tools and Inspo

Everything you need to make your Sub10 swims count

Welcome to your one-stop shop for fundraising support.

Whether you're new to asking for donations or a seasoned fundraiser, we've got tips, tools, and inspiration to help you smash your target—and fund life-changing swimming lessons for children with disabilities.

Your fundraising hub

Stay Safe, Stay Connected

Cold water swimming is wonderfully rewarding, but safety is paramount. Make sure you've familiarized yourself with NOWCA's Cold Water Safety Guide and understand your body's response to cold water. Some venues require a Cold Water Induction—check with your venue to understand their winter swimming policy.

NOWCA's Cold Water Induction (online course):

This course has been created to ensure swimmers are fully equipped to swim safely in cold water. It's an opportunity to dispel common myths whilst providing swimmers with the information needed to mitigate risks associated with cold water swimming such as hypothermia and the dangers associated with the body's cold-water shock response.

Free for fundraisers - normally £20

Join our NOWCA Wild group to access your discount code

There may be times when the cold feels challenging, but remember: you're part of a supportive community. Hundreds of swimmers in #TeamLevelWater are braving the winter waters alongside you, and we're here to cheer you on every step of the way.

Join the Level Water group on the NOWCA Wild App, click the image below

The Difference Your Dips Make

What our parents said:

“My daughter, Isie, has been having lessons for some time now and has made progress beyond all our hopes and dreams! When she started lessons she was too nervous to let the water go above her knee! Now she can swim a length on her back and jumps in the deep end - doing it in a way that suits her abilities.”

“Freddie managed his 25 meter front crawl and already managed 25 on his back this last Saturday and while that is a fantastic achievement for him, what is equally important to me is the rise in his confidence and wellbeing in general.  Freddie has been at time painfully shy and both Gwen and Ellie have been just fantastic. I am struggling to find the words for how much we appreciate you everything that you have done for Freddie and our family.”

“Have to say the swim teacher Clark has got at K2, Kelsey, is absolutely amazing. She's not only a great swim teacher (obvs!) but she's a natural born therapist. She really does get the best out of him - I've only seen Clark respond to one other therapist like this and that was in America! So impressed with her - she's capable of big things.”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. The Sub10 Club welcomes all abilities. However, we strongly recommend reading the Cold Water Safety Guide and considering the Cold Water Induction course before starting, especially if you're new to winter swimming.

  • Absolutely! Many swimmers do both. Your venue swims count on the Sub10 Club scoreboard, and your wild swims count on the Wild Sub10 Club scoreboard. All your swims support your fundraising for Level Water.

  • Every penny counts! Even if you raise £15, you've funded a swimming lesson for a child with a disability AND you're entered into the NOWCA prize draw. Any amount makes a real difference.

    • For venue swims via ACTiO: Yes, you need a current NOWCA membership. Please register with your NOWCA email for Dip for Difference

    • For wild swims via NOWCA Wild: No membership required

    • If you are not a member, NOWCA will send you details on how to join once you sign up with Level Water

  • Yes! Your NOWCA membership gives you access to all 40+ participating venues across the UK. Check the NOWCA website to find venues near you and Sub10 participating venues.

    https://nowca.org/winter-swimming/

  • Any swim in water below 10°C counts, regardless of duration or distance. A quick dip and a long swim both count as one swim. It's about showing up and embracing the cold, not about pushing limits.

  • Physical prizes (beanie, dry bag, postcards) are sent shortly after you reach each milestone. Prize draw winners are notified after the draw dates.

  • There are two types of badges you can earn:

    Physical Embroidered Badges (NOWCA Sub10 Club – Venue Swims)

    • Awarded for swims completed at participating NOWCA venues (booked via ACTiO app)

    • These are actual fabric badges that NOWCA mails to you

    • Earned at 10, 25, and 50 swims (seasonal) and 100, 200, 300 swims (cumulative lifetime total)

    • You can sew them onto hoodies, bags, or display them however you like!

    Virtual Digital Badges (Wild Sub10 Club – Wild Swims)

    • Awarded for swims logged anywhere via the NOWCA Wild app

    • These are beautiful digital badges you unlock in the app

    • Perfect for sharing on social media to celebrate your achievements

    • Tracked on the Wild Sub10 scoreboard

    Can I earn both types? Yes! If you swim at venues AND in the wild, you'll earn both physical badges (for venue swims) and virtual badges (for wild swims). Many swimmers proudly collect both.What's the difference between physical badges and virtual badges?

    There are two types of badges you can earn:

    Physical Embroidered Badges (NOWCA Sub10 Club – Venue Swims)

    • Awarded for swims completed at participating NOWCA venues (booked via ACTiO app)

    • These are actual fabric badges that NOWCA mails to you

    • Earned at 10, 25, and 50 swims (seasonal) and 100, 200, 300 swims (cumulative lifetime total)

    • You can sew them onto hoodies, bags, or display them however you like!

    Virtual Digital Badges (Wild Sub10 Club – Wild Swims)

    • Awarded for swims logged anywhere via the NOWCA Wild app

    • These are beautiful digital badges you unlock in the app

    • Perfect for sharing on social media to celebrate your achievements

    • Tracked on the Wild Sub10 scoreboard

    Can I earn both types? Yes! If you swim at venues AND in the wild, you'll earn both physical badges (for venue swims) and virtual badges (for wild swims). Many swimmers proudly collect both.

  • The Sub10 season ends, but your impact continues! The funds you've raised will provide swimming lessons throughout 2026 and beyond.

Prize Draw Key Info

  • We are offering all swimmers who raise money for Level Water the chance to win some amazing prizes.

    Simply reach £15 to be entered into the NOWCA prize draw and £75 (before 31 December 2026) to be entered into the Red Equipment prize draw.

  • How to Enter:

    • Simply register for Dip for a Difference and start fundraising by creating your fundraising page

    • Reach £15 = Automatic entry into NOWCA Prize Draw

    • Reach £75 before 31 December 2025 = Automatic entry into Red Equipment Prize Draw

  • This is for all swimmers registered to ‘Dip for a Difference’ with NOWCA’s Sub-10 or Wild Sub-10 Club.

    Register here to get involved and you’ll receive information on how to set up your JustGiving page.

  • The £75 draw will be pulled after 31 December 2025. This is so the winners can get the best use out of their cosy changing robes.

    The £15 draw will be pulled after 1 April 2026 so everyone who has dipped for a difference has a chance to win the NOWCA goodies.

  • Red Equipment Draw:

    • Fabulous changing robes worth £160 each

    NOWCA Draw (5 winners):

    • T-shirt

    • Tow float

    • Swim hat

    • Additional NOWCA goodies

    All prizes have been kindly donated by our amazing supporters.

    All of the prizes have been kindly donated by our amazing supporters:

    NOWCA

    Red Equipment

Set up your fundraising page

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