“Opening Doors That Stay Closed – Josh’s Story”

Josh and Level Water swimmer, Cody

When you meet Josh, you can instantly tell that swimming isn’t just a job for him, it’s a calling.

Based in Bristol, Josh is an Inclusion Specialist swimming teacher for Level Water, the charity giving children with disabilities the chance to learn to swim, often for the very first time.

Originally from Buckinghamshire, Josh grew up around the pool. His mum was a swim coach, and as a teenager he competed and worked as a lifeguard. “As a lifeguard, your job is to step in when something goes wrong,” he says. “But as a teacher, you get to help people before they ever get to that point. You see the smiles, the progress, the joy.”

After several years teaching English abroad in Australia and China, Josh returned to the UK with a deeper understanding of communication and inclusion. “When you’ve worked through language barriers, you realise how many ways there are to connect with people,” he explains. That experience now shapes how he teaches children with additional needs, finding creative ways to build trust and understanding beyond words.

Josh began swim teaching in 2014 and quickly found himself working with children who needed a little extra support. “It was meant to be,” he says, smiling. “When I found Level Water, I knew I’d found my place.”

Today, Josh teaches at Everyone Active sites across Bristol, including South Bristol, Easton, Horfield and Henbury, bringing the Level Water programme to life. He also teaches pre-school and primary school sessions in Easton, one of the city’s most deprived areas.
“It’s incredibly rewarding,” he says. “A lot of the children I teach wouldn’t be able to swim without Level Water. I love knowing that we’re bringing something positive into communities where opportunities are limited.”

💙 Real progress, real impact

Josh tells the story of a six-year-old boy with a lower limb missing.
“He’s neurotypical and goes to a mainstream school, so he’s surrounded by able-bodied peers. When he started, he was terrified of putting his face in the water. But within a year, he was swimming five metres on his front and now he’s progressing on his back too. When he joins his school class, he’ll actually be ahead of some of his classmates. That’s an incredible confidence boost.”

Another child, autistic and full of energy, was struggling to stay safe in a mainstream swimming group. Josh referred him to Level Water.
“Now he can swim more than five metres. His engagement varies from week to week, but that’s part of understanding who he is. We’ve built a relationship where he can thrive, and that’s the difference the right environment makes.”

🏊‍♀️ “Opening doors when so many are closed”

Josh believes things are improving in the UK for children who learn differently, but there’s still a long way to go.
“Working for Level Water means you get to open a door when so many others are closed. Parents fight constant battles for their children to be included. We get to give them one thing they don’t have to fight for, a chance to learn, to belong, to shine.”

But the need is growing. In Easton alone, there are more than 60 children on the waiting list for a Level Water place.
“There just aren’t enough lessons or teachers to meet the demand,” Josh explains. “We need more people to bang the drum about this inequality. Every child deserves to learn to swim.”

For Josh, swimming has come full circle. He’s started competing again and is training for the Bantham Swoosh next summer, an open-water swim in Devon. “It’s good to have something to train for,” he says. “It keeps me focused and healthy. Swimming’s always been part of who I am, and now it’s about giving that gift back.”

🕊️ Why Josh’s story matters

Josh’s story is one of compassion, connection and hope. Every donation, every fundraising challenge, every stroke swum helps get another child off the waiting list and into the water.
Because when a child learns to swim, they gain more than a life skill, they gain confidence, freedom and a sense of belonging.

👉 Help us train more teachers like Josh and open more doors. Click here to donate to Level Water.