Puddle Ducks raises more than £300,000 for local charities in the last six years

Franchise fundraisers ‘dive’ deep into their pockets for charity

The award-winning UK baby and child swimming school franchise has raised more than £300,000 for local charities through its national PJ Week fundraiser in the last six years.

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The Puddle Ducks UK franchise network provides swimming classes for children from birth, and during PJ Week (this year from October, 10th to 17th) around 21,000 little swimmers and their parents turned up to their regular class in pyjamas to learn vital new skills and raise money for their chosen local charities.

Jo Stone, managing director of Puddle Ducks said: “We are absolutely delighted that through our network of Puddle Ducks classes we have been able to raise so much sponsorship money for local causes that are close to the hearts of our families. Raising a total of £302,680 is just amazing.”

Charities that have benefitted from PJ Week fundraising include local hospices, search and rescue operations and charities that support families of children and babies with life-limiting conditions.

Stone added: “Wearing pyjamas during swimming lessons is also about more than just having fun. Most accidents will happen while your child is fully clothed, so Pyjama Week gives our network of classes a great opportunity to teach children what this will feel like. It will help them realise that they will feel heavier but they will still be able to do the important life-saving manoeuvres like kicking to the surface and reaching for the side.”

Puddle Ducks franchisees provide local swimming classes for children up to 10 years old. Teachers focus on creating a nurturing environment, which supports independent swimming for children of all abilities.

Founded in 2002, the company now teaches over 21,000 children to swim every week across the UK. New franchisees are provided with flexibility and can either buy a virgin territory or an existing Puddle Ducks business; they can either decide to train as a teacher themselves or they can recruit a teacher, ready for launch.

The company has been awarded 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction for the 7th year running – one of only two UK franchisors to achieve this. Puddle Ducks also won Best Overall Marketing Campaign in the 2019 Franchise Marketing Awards in October at the National Franchise Exhibition.

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