Join us on Saturday 1 March at the London Aquatics Centre for The UCL Charity Swimathon 🏊♀️
The UCL Charity Swimathon will offer all UCL students, staff and alumni the opportunity to swim further than you ever have before at the inspiring London Aquatics Centre near UCL East.
Whether you're a regular in the pool or you've just started out on your swimming journey – The UCL Charity Swimathon is the perfect challenge for you. You can choose to swim on your own or as part of a team.
The UCL Charity Swimathon will bring the UCL community together in positive, welcoming, and inclusive environment. This event is open to all levels of ability and experience.
How to join...
Explore how you can take part in The UCL Charity Swimathon:
- Individuals
Ready to dive in and set yourself a new swimming challenge? Whether you’re just starting swimming, getting fitter, or fancy a big challenge – The UCL Charity Swimathon is for you! Pledge the number of lengths you would like to swim when buying your ticket.
Ticket Prices
Earlybird (sold out) General Sale Earlybird student £9Earlybird Staff & Alumni £13
- General Sale Student £10
- General Sale Staff & Alumni £15
Tickets includes:
- Entry to The UCL Charity Swimathon
- A finishers medal
- A digital certificate
- A great experience
Refund policy: all tickets are non-refundable unless there has been an event cancellation.
- Team (5 swimmers to make up a team)
Get in the team spirit and swim together for a great cause and have fun! As a team, pledge the number of lengths you would like to swim and split the distance between your friends or colleagues in a team relay-style format. This option is perfect for Staff, groups of friends, Sports Club members and Society members!
- You’ll need a team of 5 swimmers to take on your pledged number of lengths.
- Split the number of lengths equally between you, or divide and conquer into manageable lengths, depending on your experience; each team member can do a different distance that suits them.
- You’ll be in the water one at a time, tagging the next swimmer into the pool to continue the relay. When you’re not in the water, help to count lengths and cheer each other on!
Ticket Prices
Earlybird (sold out) General Sale Important: You will need 5 swimmers to make up a team.
Earlybird Student £36Earlybird Staff & Alumni £52
Important: You will need 5 swimmers to make up a team.
- General sale Student £40
- General sale Staff & Alumni £60
Tickets includes:
- Entry to The UCL Charity Swimathon
- A finishers medal
- A digital certificate
- A great experience
Refund policy: all tickets are non-refundable unless there has been an event cancellation.
Fundraising for Mind
Grab the goggles let's get swimming! The UCL Charity Swimathon is a fantastic opportunity to support our charity partner, Mind whilst challenging yourself to swim further than you have before!
- 2 out of 3 students feel down at some point during their studies
- More than 50% of students don't feel comfortable admitting to others that they're not coping
- 1 in 8 students experience suicidal feelings at university
- 20% of higher education students consider themselves to have a mental health problem
We will be donating the following amounts for each ticket sold directly to Mind:
- £3 per ticket sold - Student (Individual)
- £5 per ticket sold - Staff & Alumni (Individual)
- £12 per ticket sold - Student (Team)
- £20 per ticket sold - Staff & Alumni (Team)
If you would like to make an additional donation to our chosen charity, Mind, you can do so via The UCL Charity Swimathon Just Giving page.
FAQs
- When does registration close?
Registration will close midday on Thursday 27 February.
- Can I register on the day?
Unfortunately, we will not facilitate on-the-day registrations for this event. To ensure your participation, it's best to secure your entry before the stipulated closure time.
- Do I need to be good at swimming to enter this event?
Absolutely not, you will just need to be able to swim 50 metres unaided. The UCL Charity Swimathon is open to all abilities, from competitive athletes to first timers aiming for personal achievements. We encourage swimmers to challenge themselves, set personal records, or simply enjoy the experience with friends and colleagues. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate fitness, wellness, and community spirit.
- When will I receive more information about the event including my session time?
You will receive more information about The UCL Charity Swimathon via email in the week leading up to the event.
- How long will I have to complete my swim?
You will have 2 hours to complete your swim. If you have any queries around completing your swim in under 2 hours, please liaise our team directly by emailing su.projectactive@ucl.ac.uk.
- How many people can make up a team?
Teams will need to be made up of 5 swimmers. Only one swimmer is allowed in the pool at any one time, and you can split the distances up in any way you wish.
- If I don’t manage to compete my pledged number of lengths, will I still receive a medal?
Yes, of course! If you don’t quite reach your target, that’s not a problem – it’s the taking part that counts!
- If I do not want to swim, can I still get involved?
Yes, we are looking for volunteers, please click here for more information. If you would like to volunteer at The UCL Charity Swimathon, please email us su.projectactive@ucl.ac.uk
- When do I need to arrive at my session?
Please arrive at your session half an hour before the swim time so you have enough time to get changed and be ready to swim at the start of the session time. For example, if your session time is 9-11am, please arrive at 08:30am.
- When will I receive my medal?
You will receive your medal poolside once you have finished swimming.
- Do I need to wear a swimming cap?
No, it is not a requirement for participants to wear a swimming cap for this event.
- When will I receive my digital certificate?
You will receive your digital certificate the week after the event via email.
- Are spectators allowed? Can I just watch?
Yes, spectators are allowed! When you arrive at the venue, please come to The UCL Charity Swimathon registration desk and we will give you a spectator’s wristband.
- I can no longer attend, who do I inform?
If you can no longer attend, please email us at su.projectactive@ucl.ac.uk.
- I can no longer take part in the event. Will I get my money back?
No, all tickets are non-refundable unless there has been an event cancellation.
- I still have a question; how can I get in touch?
Please email us at su.projectactive@ucl.ac.uk
This event will be supported by volunteers from UCL's Swimming Club.
Please follow us on Instagram for regular updates. If you have any questions please email su.projectactive@ucl.ac.uk