Trish Cumberland, a swimming teacher at Puddle Ducks Greater Manchester, has been awarded their Star Teacher award for her dedication and enthusiasm teaching baby and preschool children to swim across the region.
Trish joined the Puddle Ducks Greater Manchester team in 2020 after wanting a change in career from working as a paramedic for 20 years. She wanted to transfer her skills and help children learn to swim and love the water. Trish teaches newborn to 4-year-old children in the baby and preschool swimming classes.
The star teacher award is presented to an inspirational individual who excels in teaching young children and babies to swim across the area and receives glowing reviews from the parents and children they teach. The winning nomination was made anonymously by Danny Miller, most known for his time in Emmerdale and more recently, I’m a Celebrity, get me out of here! Danny has been swimming with Puddle Ducks Greater Manchester with his young son, Albert.
Danny said he wanted Trish to win Star Teacher for so many reasons, commenting: “I can’t find a flaw in her whatsoever and I’ve been going for near 18 months with Albert. I’m so confident in the water with him and allowing him his freedom because of both of our confidence levels. This is completely thanks to Trish, not only does she teach Albert, she also teaches me too, and it works, I’m just as interested as him. Another onlooker only the other day said “I’m not sure who enjoys it more, you or your son” a question I didn’t have the answer to in all honesty. Trish is a real asset to the company and thoroughly deserves to be named Star Teacher. Oh, and Albert loves her too!”
Thrilled to have won the award, Trish said: “It is so rewarding to see the smiles on the children’s faces as they learn to swim and to see their confidence in the water develop during each lesson. I’d like to thank all of the swimmers and their families for their kind words, it really does mean a lot.”
Praising Trish for her success, Suzanne Horton, owner of Puddle Ducks Greater Manchester said: “Trish is a wonderful teacher, she jumped straight into teaching, getting to know each child and helping them develop their skills in the water.”
Suzanne continued: “She not only delivers great lessons which help the children learn, but she lets them have so much fun whilst doing so – something we focus on at Puddle Ducks. She is inspiring a whole generation of children to love and respect the water and we are so lucky to have her on our team!”
