Tara Linton
TARA LINTON has been nominated for the Sports Volunteer of the Year award for her dedication to coaching and assisting with disability swimming both locally and nationally.
About
Tara, 17, started volunteering with Guernsey Disability Swimming in 2021 and has recently assisted athletes as well as those new to the water at several para-surfing events.
‘I started volunteering with Guernsey Disability Swimming for DofE and carried on because I love the environment there,’ said Tara. ‘Being able to help people is something I’m really interested in.’
This year, Tara coached two athletes competing at the English Para-Surfing Open, helping a Guernsey athlete to achieve bronze in their event.
‘Tara dedicates so much of her time to disability swimming,’ said nominator, Rachael Green. ‘She makes everyone she helps and works with smile. She is a really wonderful and inspiring coach.’
‘The most rewarding part of volunteering is to see the happiness it gives them,’ said Tara. She recalls a recent interaction with a young boy at the Para-Surfing Roadshow, an event for those with disabilities who have never surfed before. ‘He didn’t think he’d be able to stand up at all so seeing him get up on the board was amazing. It’s quite emotional.’
