The people behind SwimTayka
SwimTayka is powered by people who give their time, skills and experience to help children learn to swim and stay safe around water.
Leadership & governance
Our trustees provide oversight, guidance and support for SwimTayka's work.
Hover over or focus a portrait to meet each team member.
Chair Person
Dr Alice Bunn brings senior international leadership experience from the UK space sector. Her work has included international engagement, science, security, trade and the resilience of national infrastructure, alongside roles with the European Space Agency, US Space Foundation and Royal Aeronautical Society.
Vice Chair
A retired Royal Navy Commander and helicopter pilot instructor, Scotty combines leadership experience with a love of open-water swimming. He has completed a solo English Channel crossing and supports SwimTayka's Channel swimmers with training, strategy and mental preparation.
Trustee
Rachel is a salon owner, business mentor and long-distance open-water swimmer. After completing an English Channel relay for SwimTayka and volunteering in Peru, she joined the trustees to contribute her business, fundraising and creative experience.
Trustee
Neil is a practising GP, experienced open-water swimmer and trustee of a community pool in Somerset. He also teaches wilderness and extreme medicine, including cold-water immersion, and brings medical and safeguarding experience alongside a long-standing passion for swimming.
Secretary
Bryan founded SwimTayka after volunteering as a swimming teacher in Peru and seeing how many children living close to open water lacked basic swimming skills. An experienced marathon swimmer, his swims include the English Channel, Manhattan Island and Catalina Channel.
Programme delivery
Programme Manager - UK
Debbie has spent more than 15 years teaching children to swim, running her own swim school and training swimming teachers and tutors. An English Channel swimmer with a background in civil and coastal engineering and commercial diving, she brings extensive experience of swimming, water safety and teaching.
Advocacy
Ambassador - Indonesia
Amie has taught swimming around the world for more than 20 years. She discovered SwimTayka through a Channel relay swim and now supports its work in Indonesia, driven by the belief that every child should have the chance to feel safe and confident in the water.
Behind the scenes
Our operational team brings together administration, communications, safeguarding, design, volunteer support and challenge-event experience.
Administration & Operations Coordinator
Hayriye supports SwimTayka's administration and operations. As a parent, she feels strongly about drowning prevention and helping children gain the education, confidence and skills to be safer around water.
Business Coach
Lisa is a business growth coach who works with people and organisations on strategic goals, confidence and sustainable progress. She supports SwimTayka with goal setting and strategic focus to help strengthen the charity's direction.
Safeguarding Officer
Alongside his trustee role, Neil supports SwimTayka's safeguarding work. His background as a GP, university lecturer and experienced swimmer brings valuable medical, welfare and water-safety knowledge to the role.
Secretary
Liz has more than three decades of experience supporting customers, directors, charities and start-ups. Her work as a freelance personal assistant focuses on anticipating needs, finding practical solutions and helping organisations concentrate on what they do best.
PR Consultant and Copywriter
Jo began her career in journalism before moving into PR and establishing her own business, Word Worker. She supports SwimTayka with website stories and the monthly newsletter and is also a keen outdoor swimmer.
Volunteer & Programme Support Coordinator
Karen has worked with SwimTayka since December 2025. She supports volunteers and programmes and values the way swimming can build confidence, life skills and physical and mental wellbeing.
Graphic Designer
Laurie is a graphic designer with around a decade of industry experience and a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design. A keen swimmer with a strong connection to the outdoors and water, she supports SwimTayka's creative work and swimming curriculum.
SwimTayka Team Manager
Scotty manages SwimTayka's English Channel swimmers, drawing on his military leadership and his own solo Channel crossing to help teams prepare for the practical, physical and mental demands of their challenge.
Channel Swim Challenge Coordinator
Helen coordinates Channel Swim Challenges, particularly working with executive teams. She helps shape each team's journey through open-water and cold-water preparation, technique work and the logistics needed for a Channel relay.
SwimTayka Training & Voiceover
Sarah is the voice behind SwimTayka's training and learning materials. She helps make water safety, safeguarding and responsible volunteering information clear and accessible for volunteers, partners and the wider SwimTayka community.
Volunteer Coordinator
Tracy supports volunteers from their first enquiry through to preparing for a programme. With a background in administration and management, she brings organisation, communication and a personal understanding of swimming to the volunteer journey.
In the water
Our coaches bring experience from elite, open-water, pool and long-distance swimming.
Swimming Coach
Cassie is an Olympic bronze medallist, former Great Britain international swimmer and founder of Wavecrest Swimming. She supports swimmers with technique, efficiency, pacing, open-water skills and preparation for the physical and psychological demands of long-distance swimming.
Swimming Coach
Claire is a swim coach and advanced aquaphobia coach who has helped swimmers improve efficiency, reduce times and overcome a fear of water. Her own open-water experience includes long-distance events across the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.
SwimSmooth Coach - Suffolk
Seamus is an STA Level 2 Open Water Coach, ASA Level 2 Teacher of Aquatics, Sports Science graduate and Fellow of the Institute of Swimming. His swimming achievements include an English Channel relay and an Ice Mile.
SwimSmooth Coach - South West
Jason is the founder and head coach of South West Swim. A Swim Smooth Certified Coach, open-water coach, Level 2 swim coach and teacher, aquaphobia coach and open-water coaching tutor, he specialises in technique, video analysis and helping swimmers progress at every level.
Part of something bigger
Alongside our core team, volunteers give their time and skills to support SwimTayka and the communities we work with.
Get involved
There are many ways to support SwimTayka, from volunteering on a programme to sharing professional skills or taking on a swimming challenge.