Level Water
Level Water is a UK charity providing one-to-one and adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4–11 with disabilities, delivered via a partner-pool network and funded by outdoor swimming fundraising events under its Swim Collective brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Level Water does
Level Water is a UK-registered charity (no. 1151510) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells that provides one-to-one and adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4–11 with disabilities. The organization delivers approximately 70,000 specialized lessons annually through a partner-pool network spanning operators such as Fusion Lifestyle, Borocuda Swim School, Aveton Gifford Community Pool, Riverside Leisure Centre, Plymouth Life Centre, SMART Swim Centre, Swim Devon and the Bantham Estate. Its core programme also includes an Inclusion Specialist model that embeds specialists inside mainstream group lessons to broaden reach without expanding 1-to-1 slots. A 4x waitlist indicates demand materially exceeds current delivery capacity.
The charity operates a hybrid service-and-event model. The Learn to Swim programme is funded almost entirely by the Swim Collective — a portfolio of outdoor open-water fundraising events including the Dart10k (a 10km River Dart marathon swim), the 24-Hour Wild Swim Relay at Shepperton Lake, Bantham Swoosh and Boomerang downstream/upstream swims, Dusk till Dawn at Jesus Green Lido, Chillswim, Henley Swim, Scilly Swim, Dock2Dock and the Canary Wharf Swim. Participants fundraise by completing these challenges, and event proceeds are explicitly unitized at £15 per lesson delivered. Revenue is supplemented by individual donations and corporate sponsorship from brand partners including Finisterre, SwimTrek, Vivobarefoot, Zone3, Red Equipment, Catch (Digital Swim Coach), Deakin & Blue and River Dart Hideaway.
Level Water is governed by a board of trustees and led by Founder/CEO Ian Thwaites, supported by Head of Programmes Matthew Maguire, Training and Excellence Manager Andy Walker, and Head of Operations Lucy Powell. The organization joined the Swimming Alliance in June 2024, indicating ongoing sector engagement. There is no proprietary technology platform; the operating model is built on partnerships, trained teachers, and event-driven fundraising rather than software or data infrastructure.
Level Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Level Water
- Legal name
- Level Water
- Website
- https://levelwater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Level Water is a UK charity providing one-to-one and adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4–11 with disabilities, delivered via a partner-pool network and funded by outdoor swimming fundraising events under its Swim Collective brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Level Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Swimming Education and Disability Sports Charity
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquatic Centers & Swimming Facilities (MPAKAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification) (THAAABAL)
Keywords
Where Level Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Level Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Event Fundraising: Level Water organizes outdoor swimming events (river swims, 24hr relays, marathon swims) where participants raise money for the charity. Proceeds fund 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities.
- Individual Donations: Direct charitable donations from individuals supporting the charity's mission to provide swimming lessons for disabled children.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Brand partners and sponsors support events and the charity through financial contributions and in-kind support ( prizes, volunteers, equipment).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | £15 per lesson |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Level Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Level Water delivers one-to-one adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4-11 with disabilities through partnerships with pools and swim schools across the UK. Lessons are provided free of charge to beneficiary families and are funded through a portfolio of outdoor open water swimming fundraising events (the Swim Collective brand), individual donations, and corporate sponsorship. The charity also runs an Inclusion Specialist Programme that embeds trained specialists into group swim lessons to support disabled children without dedicated 1-to-1 slots.
Product overview
Level Water is a UK-based charity that provides swimming lessons and outdoor swimming events. Its core offering consists of the Learn to Swim Programme providing 1-to-1 and adapted swimming lessons for children with disabilities, supplemented by an Inclusion Specialist Programme that embeds specialists in group lessons. The Swim Collective (Swim Events) programme runs outdoor fundraising events including the Dart10k marathon river swim, 24-Hour Wild Swim Relays, Bantham Swoosh/Boomerang, and Mini Swoosh for children. Revenue from these events funds the swimming lessons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Learn to Swim Programme One-to-one adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4-11 with disabilities, delivered free of charge through partnerships with pools and swim schools across the UK. The programme covers water safety, swimming skills, strength, mobility, coordination, confidence and independence.
- Swim Collective (Outdoor Swimming Events)
- Dart10k The UK's original marathon-distance outdoor swim: a 10-kilometre river swim along the River Dart in Devon, used as a flagship Level Water fundraising event.
- 24-Hour Wild Swim Relay
- Bantham Swoosh
- Bantham Boomerang
- Mini Swoosh
- Inclusion Specialist Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- 70,000 specialized swimming lessons provided annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Level Water
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Level Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Level Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Fusion LifestylecoreLeisure operator for pools in Dartmouth, Totnes and Ivybridge. Essential partner in expanding Level Water lessons across South Devon.
- Aveton Gifford Community PoolcoreCommunity pool partner in Devon for delivering Level Water swimming lessons.
- Riverside Leisure CentrecoreCommunity Support Team partner for Level Water lessons in Devon.
- Plymouth Life CentrecoreOperated by Plymouth Active, providing lessons as part of Level Water's Devon expansion.
- SMART Swim CentrecoreSwim centre partner in Devon delivering Level Water lessons.
- Swim DevonminorRegional swimming organization partnership in Devon.
- The Wave ProjectminorSurf and swim weekend partnership delivering adapted surfing experiences for Level Water families at Croyde Bay, funded by Finisterre Foundation.
- FinisterrecoreOutdoor brand and official event partner. Present at events helping swimmers out of rivers, providing sponsorship, prizes, and support.
- SwimTrekcoreTravel company supporting Swim Collective events at Bantham Swoosh and Dart10k. Provides volunteers, support, and helps create incredible event experiences.
- VivobarefootminorBrand partner providing prizes for fundraisers.
- Zone3minorBrand partner for swim events, providing prizes and support.
- Red EquipmentminorBrand partner for swim events.
- Catch (Digital Swim Coach)minorDigital swim coaching brand partner.
- River Dart HideawayminorEvent partner and brand sponsor for Dart events.
- Borocuda Swim Schoolcore#1 adaptive swim provider in Yorkshire area. Runs group lessons, 1:1 specialist lessons for around 150 Level Water children, adaptive sessions, and competitive swimming club with parasquad programme.
- SwimTrekcoreAdventure swimming travel company supporting Level Water events since 2023.
- FinisterrecoreOfficial event partner for Bantham Swoosh, bringing smiles, hugs and support to swimmers.
- Jesus Green LidominorCambridge lido hosting Dusk till Dawn overnight swim relay events.
- Shepperton LakeminorPrivate lake hosting annual 24hr Wild Swim Relay events.
- Bantham EstatecorePrivate estate in South Devon hosting Bantham Swoosh and Boomerang swims.
- Dart MarinacoreMarina in Dartmouth hosting Dart10k finish line and helping swimmers from water.
- National Trust at GreenwayminorHosted Dart10k finish on their land, providing essential support for the event.
- Deakin & BlueminorWomen's swimwear brand supporting Level Water river swims in 2024, part of their community of swimmers.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Level Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Borocuda Swim School: Named Level Water's #1 adaptive swim provider in Yorkshire, running 1:1 specialist lessons for around 150 Level Water children plus adaptive sessions and a parasquad programme. Direct peer as an adaptive swim provider serving disabled children through partner pools.
- The Wave Project: UK charity delivering adapted surfing and water experiences for disabled and vulnerable young people; existing Level Water partner (Croyde Bay surf weekends funded by Finisterre Foundation). Direct peer as a disability-focused water-sports charity.
- Cerebral Palsy Sport: UK national disability sport charity specifically serving people with cerebral palsy and associated conditions through sport. Direct peer in the UK disability-sport charity niche.
- Snow-Camp: UK charity using snow sports to support young people facing disadvantage, with a comparable fundraising-through-challenge-event model. Direct peer as a charity that converts participant sport challenges into youth-development outcomes.
Broad incumbents
- Activity Alliance: Formerly the English Federation of Disability Sport; national umbrella body for disability sport and activity in England. Broad incumbent covering disability sport more widely than Level Water's swimming-specific focus.
- Access Sport: UK charity supporting inclusive and disability sport opportunities for underserved young people. Broad incumbent working in adjacent disability-youth-sport space.
- Swim England: National governing body for swimming in England, including a Para-Swimming programme. Broad incumbent shaping the regulatory and inclusion agenda Level Water operates within.
- WheelPower: National disability sports charity focused on wheelchair sports. Broad incumbent with adjacent mission (disability sport) but different sport focus.
- Special Olympics Great Britain: National disability sports charity providing year-round training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Broad incumbent covering multiple sports including swimming.
Others
- SwimTrek: Adventure swimming travel company that is a Core GTM/event partner supporting Bantham Swoosh and Dart10k. Ecosystem participant on the event/fundraising side, not a disability-charity competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Level Water social profiles
Digital presenceLevel Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Level Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Level Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Level Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Level Water
What does Level Water do?
Level Water delivers one-to-one adapted swimming lessons for children aged 4-11 with disabilities through partnerships with pools and swim schools across the UK. Lessons are provided free of charge to beneficiary families and are funded through a portfolio of outdoor open water swimming fundraising events (the Swim Collective brand), individual donations, and corporate sponsorship. The charity also runs an Inclusion Specialist Programme that embeds trained specialists into group swim lessons to support disabled children without dedicated 1-to-1 slots.
Is Level Water a public or private company?
Level Water is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Level Water founded?
Level Water was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Level Water based?
Level Water is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Level Water make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Level Water's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Borocuda Swim School, The Wave Project, Cerebral Palsy Sport and Snow-Camp. Broad incumbents are Activity Alliance, Access Sport, Swim England, WheelPower and Special Olympics Great Britain. SwimTrek is listed as an others.
Does Level Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Level Water.
What industry is Level Water in?
Level Water's product category is Adaptive Swimming Education and Disability Sports Charity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAEAF, Aquatic Centers & Swimming Facilities, with a secondary code of THAAABAL, Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7900.