Splash Foundation

890. Simon Holliday

Since founding the charity in 2015, 1,000 people have been taught to swim through its 11 hour swimming programme delivered by a team of qualified coaches. The free courses are specifically aimed at adults who have never been taught how to swim and have no access to swimming facilities. Simon has also embarked on several swimming endurance challenges including swimming the English Channel in 2011, a record breaking swim from Hong Kong to Macau in 2014, and last year swam the 45km circumference of Hong Kong island in 12 hours and 32 minutes, beating the previous record and raising over £100,000 for the charity. He aims to expand the charity’s swimming programme to teach over 5,000 people by 2020.

Simon received his award from Consul General Andrew Heyn at the British Consulate-General Hong Kong.

In a personal letter to Simon, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“By setting up ‘Splash Foundation’ you have not only helped one thousand people in Hong Kong learn how to swim but also increased their confidence and wellbeing. Your record-breaking swim around Hong Kong Island raising over 1 million HKD, as well as your previous sporting challenges, display real dedication and commitment to the charity.”

Simon said:

“It’s amazing for a Point of Light to be shone on the work ‘The Splash Foundation’ has been doing in Hong Kong with Filipino and Indonesian migrant domestic workers, refugees and under-privileged kids. So far we’ve helped over 1,000 people to learn to swim. This is due to the many swimmers and coaches who volunteer their time every Sunday to help people to find joy in water.”

1/2 Congratulations to Simon Holliday from #HongKong for being honoured with a #PointsOfLight award from @Number10gov. He was presented the award by Consul General Andrew Heyn today. pic.twitter.com/8tF6z5NmiX

— UK in Hong Kong 🇬🇧 (@UKinHongKong) January 23, 2018

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