Brighton swimmer Angus Macfadyen is still on course to swim the Channel this month, despite breaking his wrist less than a month ago.

Macfadyen, who trains with the Brighton and London club Out to Swim, will take to the water at Dover on the evening of 25 August and head for the French coast, conditions permitting.

In the process, he aims to raise over £14,000 for Lawrence’s Roundabout Well Appeal, a charity set up to raise money for the purchase of roundabout wells – also known as Playpumps – for countries in Africa.

Macfadyen’s attempt at this marathon sea crossing is an object lesson in perseverence. Only three years ago he was a virtual nonswimmer, struggling to swim 15m front crawl in an indoor pool.  And despite a significant setback last month when he was knocked off his bike by a lorry, breaking the scarphoid bone in his wrist, he is determined to finish the 22-mile challenge – complete with waterproof cast. For more information or to pledge sponsorship, visit www.channelangus.co.uk

Active Sussex is pleased to announce nominations for the Sussex Sports Awards 2010 are now open.

It’s your chance to put the spotlight on those individuals, clubs and players that have made award-winning contributions to Sussex sport over the last 12 months.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the awards ceremony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Friday 12 November, jointly hosted by BBC commentator and Olympic medalist Katharine Merry, and BBC Radio Sussex broadcaster Danny Pike.

Nominations run until 12 October. For a full list of the 14 categories and a nomination pack click here

Sport England has announced that its Sustainable Facilities Fund will re-open for applications on the Tuesday 26 October until the Tuesday 21 December 2010.

The fund will be available to organisations such as sports clubs, voluntary or community organisations, local authorities, and education establishments, to invest in innovative projects capable of transforming the places where we play or take part in sport.  The funding is for the development of the capital infrastructure, this can include contributions to the costs of new build; modernisation; and major fixed equipment where it is an integral part of a project.

Please follow this link: www.sportengland.org/funding/sustainable_facilities

We are currently working on this and hope to resume normal service as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact the relevant officer at Active Sussex or email Andy Duck at a.s.duck@brighton.ac.uk

The Sports Leaders UK Volunteer Recognition Scheme acknowledges those Sports Leaders who have used their sports leadership skills to make a contribution to their local communities, demonstrating that sports leadership and volunteering really does make a difference.

Nominations are now open so please promote within your network or if you are working directly with Sports Leaders, why not make a nomination yourself?

Please note that all nominees must hold a Sports Leaders UK award or qualification, be aged 14 or over and have completed at least an additional 10 hours of volunteering in their community since becoming a Sports Leader.

The nomination form and further information can be found on the Sports Leaders UK Website. The deadline for nominations is 15 October 2010.

The centre, run by leading leisure trust, Freedom Leisure, has a 33×12m, six lane pool, with a moveable boom, which was the perfect place for these local school children to compete on a friendly and social level. Six local rural primary schools met at the centre for a day of fun competition in the water, with Albourne C.E.P. winning the boy’s swimming event and the girl’s trophy been shared between St. Giles C.E.P. and St. Peters C.E.P.

Prizes were presented to the winning schools by Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability, Councillor Pru Moore, who said, ‘I was delighted to see so many children from our village schools having the opportunity to swim in the NEARS gala and compete on equal terms with other small schools.’

Andy Jones, Centre Manager at Freedom Leisure’s Dolphin Leisure Centre commented that, ‘Freedom Leisure is pleased to be able to support these small rural schools and provide swimming and other fun activities for these young people to take part in. We look forward to next year’s event and seeing more of the local areas young and talented swimmers’.

To find out more about Freedom Leisure visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk

Specialist volunteers will have specific skills or qualifications that are needed for them to complete the role: for example, doctors, doping control officers, and sports specialists. Applications also open for special interest groups such as 3,500 Personal Best graduates and members of a number of pre-identified disability organisations.

On Wednesday 15 September 2010, applications open to the public for general roles.

Have you got what it takes? Visit the London 2012 website to find out!

The two-year countdown to the London 2012 Games will be marked in spectacular fashion in West Sussex this weekend, between Friday July 23 and Sunday July 25.

The theme of this year’s nationwide Open Weekend is ‘challenges’. There will be 16 events across the county, and each has a special challenge for everyone to enjoy.

Event highlights include trying basketball, climbing and judo at K2 Crawley; helping to make a new public art installation at Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery; and a free family fun day in Horsham Park.

The variety of events planned for Open Weekend 2010 demonstrates how West Sussex is making the most of the build up to the 2012 Games.

For more information on exactly where and when events are running, please check out:

http://www.westsussex-aheadofthegame.com/events/

Freedom Leisure, the leading not-for-profit leisure trust is eager that those over 60’s who have benefitted from this initiative do not give up their swimming and the associated benefits that this great form of exercise offers. 

Jeff Hart, Freedom Leisure’s Managing Director (and Active Sussex Trustee) said “We are keen that our older, regular users continue to enjoy their swimming and at the most affordable cost for them.  From August onwards Freedom Leisure’s staff will be on hand to offer advice and recommend the best value swimming plan.  For anyone who swims more than twice a week our Swim Membership at £22.00 per month will be their best option, for example swim three times a week and each swim will equate to just £1.84 per session”.

For those looking to include  a range of fitness activities into their regular regime, Freedom Leisure’s Premier 60 membership allows members unlimited gym, daytime classes, sauna, steam room and swimming and is great value at £28.50 per month.  For casual swimmers, there is always the option to pay as you go for each individual visit”.

To find out more about Freedom Leisure visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk