OTS Newcastle - About the Club
Welcome to OTS Newcastle, an inclusive and welcoming swimming club for the LGBTQ+ community and allies founded in 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just dipping your toes in the water, our club offers a safe, supportive, and friendly environment for everyone to enjoy swimming, improve their skills, and connect with like-minded people.
We currently run regular weekly coached swim sessions, catering to all abilities, from casual swimmers to those training for competitions. Our focus is on fun, fitness, and community, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and confident in the water.
The club is an adult-only club therefore we do not accept members under the age of 18. Beyond the pool, we also host social events, pride celebrations, and team outings, creating a strong and welcoming community both in and out of the water. No matter your background, gender identity, or experience level, you’ll find a place here with us.
Join OTS Newcastle and make a splash with a team that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and the joy of swimming.
Training
We run 4 weekly sessions: Monday 8-9pm, Tuesday 7.30-8.30pm, Thursday 8-9pm and Saturday 11-12am. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays are at Heworth Leisure Centre and Tuesday is at The Lakeside Centre. The club is split into 4 lanes depending on ability.
How to Join
You can join Out to Swim Newcastle by filling out the online form here. You will be added to our waiting list, and our membership secretary will get in touch as soon as we have spaces available.
You will be able to attend one of our free trial sessions which take place at the start of each month, where we will assess your swimming and allocate you a lane depending on your ability. Currently, we are only able to offer membership and coaching for swimmers able to swim 4 lengths of front crawl without stopping. Unfortunately, we cannot offer swimming lessons to beginners at this stage.
If you have any questions relating to your taster session, please reach out via our instagram social media handles or join via the website.
Social
We believe that what makes us a great club is not only our love for swimming but also our passion for social gatherings. We want our members to feel welcome so every month we organise socials and also regular coffee/brunch/drink meet-ups after training sessions.
Our goal is to provide you with a non-judgemental and supportive environment to make sure that each and every one of our members feels strongly like they are a part of our inclusive community. Fortnight we run brunches at the Lock and Quay in Gateshead and we also have an active social calendar managed by our welfare secretary.
Membership Fees
We offer two kinds of membership. Full, which means you can sign up to as many sessions as you like a week (£36.00 per month). We also offer a reduced membership of 1 swim per week (£22.00 per month).
For members interested in coaching, we can support you in gaining your qualifications.
Unfortunately we cannot offer pay as you go at the current moment.
Swim England Membership Fees
All club members are required to pay the annual Swim England membership fee for 2024 these are:
Cat 1 (non-competitive)- £17
Cat 2 (competitive) - £42.40
Your swim England membership provides exclusive access to competitions and prizes, the opportunity to chat with elite athletes and experts, as well as great discounts.