Making Mini Polo accessible
We founded Drenched to open up water polo to younger children, building swimming confidence, teamwork and the joy of the game.
Our early story ↗DRENCHED • SINCE 2016
Small beginnings.
Big waves.
Born from a simple idea—to make water polo accessible to more children—Drenched has grown into a community of swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, opportunity and belonging.
Explore our story ↓OUR STORY AT A GLANCE
From first passes
to international stages.
Founded in Sussex in 2016, Drenched started with one simple idea: children should be able to discover water polo early, without needing to come through traditional competitive swimming first. What followed was a broader pathway that brings swimming, Swim & Play, Mini Polo, competitive water polo and community outreach together.
By 2018, the Drenched Mini Under-13 League had opened up new local representation for Shoreham and Bognor. Two teams met in a landmark 6–6 draw, documented by the Sussex press. Read the original report.
In January 2020, Swim England covered our plans to take a 15-player Drenched squad to HaBaWaBa International in Italy as the first English team due to attend. We were excited to represent our community internationally, but the event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the trip never took place.
Since 2024, our community not-for-profit model through Aquatic 2012 CIC has put access, participation and progression at the centre of the work. Free water polo, school swimming and water safety, regional opportunities, international festivals and family-focused events are different parts of the same story: more children, more confidence and more time in the water.
It is a story built by children, parents, volunteer supporters, coaches and partner organisations. Founders and early leaders included Matthew White, Mihaela Nicolescu and Anthony Gray, with other dedicated coaches, swim-school partners and families helping the programme grow. The original international squad and its ambitions were documented publicly by Swim England.
Read Swim England's 2020 feature ↗OUR STORY
A different
way into aquatics.
Drenched Mini Water Polo was founded in Sussex in 2016 to give children an earlier, more welcoming introduction to a sport they might otherwise never experience. Rather than expecting children to become competitive swimmers before trying water polo, we brought the game to them.
As the school grew, so did the ambition: combine swimming, Mini Polo, competitive water polo and artistic swimming, and give every child more reasons to love the water.
Drenched began in 2016 and has operated as a community not-for-profit since 2024 through Aquatic 2012 CIC, focused on access, awareness, participation and progression.
FROM SUSSEX TO THE WORLD
Look how far
we've come.
Milestones made possible by children, families, coaches, partners and the Sussex community.
New teams. New towns. New opportunities.
The newly formed Drenched Mini Under-13 League brought Shoreham Stingrays and Bognor Barracudas into a landmark 6–6 match, creating representative opportunities for towns not previously active in youth water polo.
Read the 2018 local league report ↗A first for English youth water polo
Swim England reported Drenched's plan for a 15-player team to enter HaBaWaBa International in Italy, naming players including Aaron Lalic and coaches Matthew White and Mihaela Nicolescu. The event was subsequently cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team did not travel.
Swim England announcement ↗Free monthly water polo
We launched free monthly water polo opportunities to introduce children to the sport without requiring an existing club pathway.
Programme background ↗Access. Participation. Progression.
Our community not-for-profit model expanded the mission beyond weekly classes, supporting accessible aquatic opportunities, free community events and stronger pathways into the sport.
Aquatic 2012 CIC ↗HaBaWaBa Spain
Our under-12 players represented the UK at the HaBaWaBa festival in Tarragona, competing against international teams and celebrating three match wins across two entries.
Read the story ↗Child of Sussex Sporting Team of the Year
Our under-12 HaBaWaBa squad was recognised with the Child of Sussex Sporting Team of the Year award. The squad also celebrated international Fair Play recognition.
Award announcement ↗Top Up Swimming & water safety
Alongside Windlesham House School and partner swim schools, our team welcomed pupils from local primary schools for additional swimming and water-safety education.
School partnership ↗Worthing Schools Swimming Festival
Forty children from five schools tried swimming races, lifesaving and water polo at a free educational festival with Windlesham House School.
Festival report ↗Summer of Swimming
Subsidised intensive swimming and Mini Polo holiday programmes helped more children spend time in the pool. Our 2025 programme welcomed more than 120 children across four weeks.
Community update ↗HaBaWaBa Italy
Our competition pathway continued internationally, with the Drenched/Aquatic squad travelling to HaBaWaBa International Plus in Italy.
2026 programme report ↗Worthing Festival of Swimming
A free showcase inviting children to try racing, diving, lifesaving, Mini Polo, deep-water polo and artistic swimming.
Festival details ↗National media attention
BBC Sussex reported on our community swimming work and the need to tackle gaps in children's swimming ability through accessible provision.
BBC coverage shared by Aquatic 2012 ↗A BIGGER PURPOSE
Community
comes first.
Our programmes bring together children at every stage—from a first swimming lesson or first polo pass to developmental training and international competition.
Through Aquatic 2012 CIC, we work with schools, pools and community partners to remove barriers, improve water safety and offer affordable or free opportunities where possible.
Explore Aquatic 2012 CIC ↗THE IDEA THAT STARTED IT
More children.
More opportunity.
More time in water.
Access • Awareness • Participation • Progression.
Join the Drenched community ↗