Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club

What Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club does

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC) is a student-run, non-profit university sports club founded in 1855 and based at Parkside Pools in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country and offers competitive swimming and water polo programs to current Cambridge University students, fielding separate Men's and Women's Blues and Seconds squads that compete in BUCS leagues, the annual Varsity matches against Oxford University, and inter-college Cuppers competitions. Beyond pool-based sport, the club operates open-water programmes including the Channel Relay crossing between England and France and the Henley Classic upstream swim, and runs pre-season training camps at international venues such as Budapest, Lanzarote, and Malta.

Name

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club

Legal name

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club

Website

https://cuswpc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CUSWPC is a student-run Cambridge University sports club, founded in 1855, that provides competitive swimming and water polo training, BUCS league play, and annual Varsity matches against Oxford to current students and an active alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Amateur Aquatic Sports

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Open Water Swimming Events (OWS Races, Swim Challenges) (MPAKAIAF), Collegiate & School Athletic Facilities (MPAKAEAJ)

Keywords

• Amateur swimming club
• University water polo
• Varsity aquatic sports
• Open water swimming
• Alumni athlete network

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Student membership fees subsidized through donations, ranging from £210-£590 per year depending on squad level. Each session costs £200-£300 on average.
2. Alumni Donations: Club relies heavily on alumni donations and outside sponsorship. University Sports Service matches donations up to £7,500. Donations cover pool hire (£50,000/year) and transport (£7,500/year).
3. Sponsorship: External sponsorship and corporate partnerships supporting club operations and equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CUSWPC provides competitive and recreational swimming and water polo opportunities to University of Cambridge students, training them to compete at intercollegiate and national levels. It runs varsity-level competition against Oxford, open-water swimming programmes (including Channel Relay training), residential training camps, and a sustained alumni community ("Tadpoles") that supports the club after graduation.

Product overview

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC) is a student-run university sports club offering swimming and water polo programs. The club provides structured training sessions, BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) competitive matches, Varsity events against Oxford, open water swimming opportunities including Channel Relay and Henley Classic, alumni networking through the Tadpoles program and Harold Beale Club, and training camps. The club operates primarily at Parkside Pools in Cambridge and organizes fundraising appeals to support pool hire and competition transport costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Competitive Swimming Programme Training, coaching, and competition pathway for Cambridge students in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley at intercollegiate and Varsity level. Open to members who join the club during their studies.
• Competitive Water Polo Programme (Men's and Women's) Training, team selection, and competitive fixtures for men's and women's water polo squads, including Blues and Seconds teams, competing against other universities and in Varsity Matches.
• Varsity Match Programme Annual intercollegiate fixtures in swimming and water polo against Oxford, including Blues and Seconds matches that are the sporting highlight of the club's calendar.
• Open Water Swimming and Channel Relay Endurance open-water training and team participation in long-distance relays including the English Channel Relay, for Cambridge swimmers and water polo players seeking marathon-distance challenges.
• Training Camps Pre-season and away training camps that bring the squad together for intensive pool and water polo preparation, typically held off the Cambridge campus.
• Tadpoles Alumni Programme Lifelong engagement programme for former CUSWPC members, including newsletters, alumni events, reunions, and donation pathways that connect graduates with current students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 records broken in Lent & Easter 2026 term
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University Sports ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025University Sports Service has agreed to continue matching donations received up to £7,500. This means £50 donated by an individual could lead to nearly £400 for the club due to the matching scheme and tax refunds.
• Cambridge Children's HospitalminorOthersBeneficiary of the Cambridge University Alumni Channel Swim Team fundraiser organized for June 2027.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Poseidon Club (Channel Swim Alumni Association): Channel Swim alumni network that provides grants to CUSWPC and other Cambridge/Oxford clubs; functions as an ecosystem partner and donor-aligned organization rather than a direct competitor.
• University of Cambridge Boat Club: Another Cambridge university sports club sharing the same Varsity Match ecosystem, alumni donor model, and Blues/Seconds hierarchy; useful comparable for governance and fundraising structure.

Direct peers

• Durham University Swimming Club: A leading UK university swimming program that competes in BUCS leagues and is structured similarly to CUSWPC with student-led governance, squad tiers, and alumni networks.
• Oxford University Swimming and Water Polo Club (OUSWPC): Oxford's direct counterpart and Varsity Match rival; identical structure (swimming + water polo, BUCS competition, Varsity tradition) and the club most directly comparable in scale, model, and competitive target.
• UCL Swimming and Water Polo Club: London-based combined swimming and water polo club with student-led governance and BUCS competition comparable to CUSWPC's structure.
• University of Edinburgh Swimming Club: Major Scottish university swim club competing in BUCS with student membership tiers, alumni engagement, and a comparable blended swimming/water-polo program.
• Bristol University Swimming and Water Polo Club: Combined swimming and water polo club at a leading UK university with similar BUCS competition model and student subscription membership tiers.
• University of Bath Swimming Club: Historically elite UK swimming program combining student membership with performance pathways, sharing BUCS participation and alumni traditions with CUSWPC.
• Loughborough University Swimming Club: Routinely ranked among the top UK university swimming programs (often top-3 in BUCS), with student membership tiers, training squads, and a comparable competitive calendar.
• Imperial College Swimming and Water Polo Club: London university club offering both swimming and water polo squads in BUCS competitions with a similar student-run, subscription-funded model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cuswpc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CUSWPC
• Instagraminstagram.com/cuswpc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-university-swimming-and-water-polo-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club