The Electric Eels Swimming Club has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The club was founded in 2008 to promote competitive swimming for young people with Down Syndrome. It has charity status and a committee of teachers and water helpers work on a voluntary basis.

The charity teaches young Down Syndrome people to acquire swimming skills whether absolute beginners or with a capability to compete internationally.

Its swimmers are eligible to enter national disability galas and Special Olympics competitions and members train at the Windsor Leisure Centre pool in Stovell Road most Saturday evenings from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Director of Swimming Pauline Walker has over 30 years experience of disability swimming, and is part of the coaching/caring of the GB Team that goes to the World Down Syndrome Championships every two years.

A Queen’s Award is the equivalent of an MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others.

It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of the award winners judged to be of the highest standard - 66 groups from Berkshire have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service since it was created by the Queen to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.