Initial Investigations into Community-run Swimming Pools May 2008

                                                Kirkham and Rural Splash! 
                                                          Action Group 

                                                           Report No 1  (8th May 2008)

       Initial investigations into Community-run Swimming Pools

“Swimming is the only sport activity which can be done at any age and by all sections of the population. It can be done in all weathers, has a major impact on health and fitness and is now part of the National Curriculum for primary school children”
London pools campaign

“This is a FEEL GOOD project for,about and by, a wonderful community”
Friends of Edgware Pool Christchurch, New Zealand
“Swimming is Britain's most popular sporting activity. Twenty-two per cent of adults and half of all schoolchildren regularly go to pools. Yet the decline of facilities has been accompanied by a rapid increase in childhood obesity”. Telegraph Sport 29/02/08
“Swimming is one of the easiest and most enjoyable sports to participate in and, unlike other sports, it was singled out to be mandatory in primary schools because, as well as being a superb recreational activity, it is critical in reducing the risk of drowning. So by the age of 11 children must be taught to swim competently for at least 25 metres. However, unless your child happens to attend one of the few primary schools with a pool the swimming experience will vary radically. As pools have closed schools have had to travel further and scramble for pool time.” Kate Houey Daily Telegraph 29/02/08 

                                            London Pools Campaign
Mission Statement
London Pools Campaign has been formed to ensure that all Londoners have access to local swimming pools and to preserve and expand existing pool stock.
We believe:
• Swimming is one of the most democratic forms of exercise
• Swimming is an essential life skill for all
• Pools benefit people at every life stage regardless of their state of health or disability
• Pools provide an important sense of community
• London needs local pools for all aquatic sports and recreation
• Access to pools should be affordable for all


1. Preamble
This report has been written by Miranda Cox, with the support of Kristin Vogel and Kerry McKracken.

It is not intended as a finished document, rather one that sets out a number of case studies, identifies shared ethos, raises points for discussion and makes some recommendation's.

Additional work is required during the next few weeks in order for the writers to present a more complete report.

A number of detailed documents have been attached for the file. I have not copied them to everyone in the interest of sanity and the environment!

The three of us have spent hours researching community run swimming pools via the internet and telephone. Messages have been left with a number of chairmen and group leaders, but at the time of writing, there has been limited response to our requests for information. We conclude this is a result of the considerable pressures on the personnel at each of these organisations.

What is evident is that the situation faced by Kirkham and Rural Splash! is not unusual. There is a general lack of commitment from local and national government towards swimming provision, and ultimately, it can be suggested, local communities. Ironically, swimming is the only sporting activity carried out by all age groups, it is relatively inexpensive and is crucial for healthy and safe communities.

However there are numerous groups of hard-working and committed volunteers throughout the UK, and indeed the world, striving to provide important facilities for their communities. Ultimately, whether Kirkham Splash! succeeds or not, the collective spirit of residents and the action group should be harnessed for the benefit of Kirkham and rural Fylde.

2. Case Studies 

                                        South Molton Swimming Pool 
                                                           Devon
South Molton Swimming Pool is and old outdoor pool in a deprived rural area of North Devon. It was threatened with closure because it was aging and becoming run down.

The community voiced their interest, and with the Council’s help a charitable trust fund was started in 1996. The Trust raised the funds (approx. £600.000) to build a very simple, new barn-style 20m pool with no frills whatsoever (they were able to sink the new water tank into the whole of the old outdoor pool which saved them a lot of the building cost by avoiding excavations). The new pool opened in 1996.

In the future it is intended to extend the pool with gym and possibly a dance studio facility (but no sauna or steam room as they don’t feel a demand for it)

The pool receives an annual grant from the council of £30.000.
Admission fees are low -£2.30 for an adult and £1.80 for junior/senior swimmers. A discount is offered to adults who buy a book of 20 tickets for £36 (this equates to £1.80 per swim) There are no annual contracts.
Swimming lessons for children are priced at £38 for 10 lessons. Children are taught in groups of 10.

The pool management (Pool Manager who reports to board of trustees)
offers a very full programme of events and activities which change hourly. These include:
Learn to swim program (teaching over 300 children in 2 parallel classes of 10 children per class)
Sessions such as “Ladies only”, “Adult-only-lunch-swim”, “Public Swim”, “Swim-Ability” (for older people – gentle exercises after overcoming injuries or ailments), “Fun Hour” (one hour fun for kids with large inflatable in the middle of the pool)
Exclusive Birthday Hour in the Pool (with inflatable, £60 per hour)
School swimming (at a slightly cheaper rate, and they find they don’t make good money this way)

Tea and coffee is served from the reception counter to bolster the income slightly (other products are accessed through vending machines)

There is no fundraising to run and maintain the pool. It is simply maintained by the council grant and admission fees. The pool makes about £10-20K profit each year.

The pool has a core staff of 1 manager and 3 duty officers. Young people who are trained and paid life guards are employed in the evenings and weekends. Volunteers are not used as the disadvantages regarding health and safety are felt to outweigh benefits. 

                                                          Jesmond Pool 
                                                              Newcastle
Originally opened in 1938 amid the characteristic philanthropic debates of the time, the pool was closed by the local authority in 1991, despite it being well used and reasonably cost effective. Within a year the public anger had been turned into action. The Jesmond Swimming Project formed to lease the building, employ staff and fundraise. The National Lottery contributed most recently to a major refurbishment.

The pool is a Company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.
The Company is managed by a board of trustees of the charity. Meetings are open to the public.

The charitable community status is crucial as it promotes a sense of local ownership and friendliness. In addition, employment and career opportunities for locals are encouraged through volunteer schemes. Lifeguards are volunteers looking to keep their NPLG qualifications valid, but some other staff are paid.

The Council originally thought it would not work. But the trust increased the opening times and introduced new activities. Well trained staff are the key to their success.

Each week there are numerous wet and dry activities, such as yoga, salsa, table tennis, swim clubs, parties, swimming lessons, school use, and a shop/cafe

The pool was originally helped by “Buy a brick”, subscription and fundraising events. Later the National Lottery contributed.
Staff also now offer consultancy services, which in turn raises money.

In 2007 income from use was £550,000. The essential costs (not including staff) came to £58,000. Salaries, insurance, rent, maintenance etc amounted to £489,250.. The pool had a surplus of £2,750 and then received donation and other income, so the surplus was £7,750.

Prices for a swim are £2.50-£3.50, with concessions and “sava passes”. There is a different pricing structure for the special activities, sauna and fitness suite. They offer a variety of options such as pay as you go or subscription schemes for joint membership to pool and fitness suite. 


                                             Tadcaster Swimming Pool 
                                                           Yorkshire
This is a new pool and fitness venue opened in 1994. It is funded via several sources. The Town Council and District Council each provide a grant. Sport England, the National Lottery as well as local business and community donations are also key...

The two swimming pools, a 25 metre and small learner pool, are run by Tadcaster Swimming Pool Trust Ltd, which is also a registered charity. The venue relies heavily on volunteers who work in Reception, grounds maintenance and life guarding; however there are some salaried staff who manage the pool on a day to day basis.

Volunteers are offered free training in return for a commitment of a minimum of two hours voluntary work per week. The training offered is in first aid, National lifeguard qualifications, customer care and maintenance skills.

Interestingly the website stresses the benefits of volunteering such as 10 million people volunteer each week, that the economic value of such work is in excess of £40 billion annually, that volunteering gives people the opportunity to learn new skills, that a society that encourages voluntary work is a caring one and that volunteers state that they achieve high levels of personal satisfaction from the work they do..

The pool and fitness venue has links with the health service, and offers recuperation therapies, as well as a range of aqua related activities such as scuba diving, swimming lessons. The trust has links with swimming clubs, disabled groups and outdoor activity clubs. A number of events link with the pool, but do not necessarily involve the pool (three peaks challenge)

It keeps the use of chemicals down to a minimum, by using a mixture of chlorine ad ozone to maintain water quality. 

                                                         Hampton Pool 
                                                               London
Opened in 1922, the open air pool was run by numerous levels of local government until it closed in 1980, when it was no longer considered financially viable.

When it was scheduled for demolition in 1984, a community group formed to save it. Hampton pool is a charity for the community run in association with Kingston and Wimbledon YMCA and supported by London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames and Hampton Fuel Allotments.

Hampton Pool is open for swimming 365 days of the year! It is also the location for open air concerts. During the school holidays there is a special children’s’ club for two hours three times a week. There is a café which sells light meals as well as beverages, a pool shop selling swimwear and equipment. The complex has a poolside gym and sauna and a pool for learners

Swimming prices vary according to the season, but start at £4.50 per day per adult and £2.75 for children. There are discount books of 10 or 20 swims and a combined season ticket for the swimming pool and gym.

A range of activities are offered including ladies only, swimming lessons, adult swimming lessons and summer crash courses. In addition children aged 8 to 16 can take a “rookie” life guard course for £60. Gym membership is £25 per month, and for an additional £30 a personal trainer can be employed. The fitness suite offers yoga, Pilates etc.

Uniquely, the Friends of the Pool have a social club. Members pay an annual fee and the club meets three times a week during the summer season. At these times members can swim exclusively. They are expected to help on the working parties as well as paying their membership fee. However they are rewarded with BBQ’s and events as well as quiet swimming sessions. 

                                             Red lodge Community Pool 
                                                       Southampton
This pool is run by people of the community for the community as a not for profit company and registered charity.

The pool is 20 meters long and is used by clubs, schools and the public 7 days a week. On offer are fun swims and lane swimming sessions. There are baby and parent sessions as well as aquacise classes. Swimmers with disabilities have exclusive sessions several times a week. Individuals can hire the pool for parties. Swimming lessons are available in blocks of twelve weeks, and these are available to children and adults alike.

Lifeguards are paid if they are over 16 and have the NPLG qualification.

Prices for swimming are low, with children paying £1.30 and adults £3.00. Concessions are available to seniors and students. 

                                                     Burnham-on-Sea 
                                                           Somerset
This pool has been the subject of a high profile and successful campaign to save it. In many ways it is possibly most similar to Kirkham, in that the District Council blamed a budget deficit for its threatened closure.

The community action group that formed to fight the council only intended to put in a bid to run the pool if all other options failed. After a great many problems, eventually two private lease holders took over the pool. They now plan to regenerate it. They signed a 99 year lease, but this means that the site must remain a pool for 20 years

The pool is believed to run at a deficit of £250.000 annually 

                                                    Edgeware Pool 
                                         Christchurch New Zealand
An open air pool that originally opened in 1934, it had an illustrious history, hosting galas attended by thousands of people. It was built and run on voluntary labour, with funding coming from the community who believed in the benefits of swimming and in the pool as a community asset.

“The St Albans pool was highly valued as a community facility, and also provided a gathering place for families to enjoy a swim, and a good social get together. There were club days and fun days for the community, with the pool also available to many local schools in the area.”

In 2002 it was taken over by the council and subsequently run down over a four year period. The local community felt it was such a loss they organised themselves to create what has been described as an urban oasis. The Friends of Edgeware Pool are a registered charity. They are aiming to raise $1.500 000 to build a new pool and community facilities. So far they have $77.000

The Web site www.stalbans-pavillionandpool.org.nz
Is interesting as it has a page where people can leave memories of swimming, suggest ideas for fundraising events and volunteer their skills. It also has a list of donors. 

                                               Pells Outdoor swimming pool 
                                                                   Lewes
Run by The Pells Pool Community Association, this pool is the oldest outdoor pool in the country. For years the Lewes District Council had proposed the pool’s closure. Each time there was fierce public opposition. In 1999, it was suggested that a skateboard park be put over the site.
In March 1999 an extra-ordinary Town meeting was called in response to over 4,000 signatories signing a petition. At this meeting Lewes Town Council offered to fund the pool in the short term. It was agreed that the District Council would run the pool for one more season, on the understanding that a group of local people formed an organization that would work towards running the pool in subsequent years.
Local people worked hundreds of hours voluntarily cleaning and renovating. Hundreds more signed up to become members of the 'Pells Pool Campaign'. In May 2000 the Pells Pool Campaign became the ‘Pells Pool Community Association,’ a charity and ‘not for profit company’ limited by guarantee,
Ownership was transferred to the The Town Council, from the District Council who agreed to make a contribution of £10,000 per year for three years to enable them to become fully established. As a result of the group’s success, this funding has been extended indefinitely. The annual loss of £40,000 has, been replaced by an operating profit of around the same figure.
The partnership between Lewes Town Council and the PPCA has ensured the short term success of the pool. A joint working party has been set up with representatives of both organizations with a view to ensuring the pools long term future. One outcome of this has been the commissioning of architects to drawn up plans for the phased regeneration of the pool and its technical infrastructure
All day tickets are priced at £3.80 for adults, £2.00 for juniors /concessions and family tickets are £10.00. Saver cards are available as are season tickets. The pool can be hired by the hour at a price from £45 to £60 depending on the day. Schools can hire pool for £25.00per hour.
Friends of the pool are asked for a £25 donation and to help maintain pool in return for preferential swimming.
3 Summary of Key Features
Below is a list of the features most of the pools share
They are run by a volunteer trust and not for profit companies limited by guarantee.

A public swimming pool can be run efficiently & cost-effectively simply by reasonable admission charges when a tightly packed pool schedule is offered

Most have some sort of subsidy from town or district Councils.

Most fundraise in the community and have a Friends/membership scheme.

The majority rely heavily on volunteer labour, but all offer something in return.

All have very clear web sites. They clearly display prices, opening times, facilities on offer. They also list news, events and volunteer opportunities.

Most have additional facilities such as saunas and gyms.

All are open longer, such as bank holidays.

Lane swimming is always available either as special session or roped off areas.

Most have strong relationship with Amateur Swimming Clubs.

Discounts are available for regular swimmers ie gold, silver, bronze cards or discount books of tickets (10 swims for price of 9)

There are concessions for OAPs and children and some pools operate discounts for those on benefits.

All offer swimming lessons. Many offer improver courses and intensive courses as well

All offer times to local schools.

Most offer special sessions such as Parent/toddler, adults only.

Some sell merchandise/and swimming equipment.

Private hire of pool for parties is available at pre set times

Many have a room where functions/parties can take place.
4 Fundraising ideas
Below is a list of fundraising initiatives employed by Community Trusts that could be adapted to suit Kirkham Splash!

Friends/membership schemes-pay a set fee (£25) in return get newsletters and preferential swim times or some other reward.

BBQ’s –buy tickets and receive food and drink in return. Such events are also be used as a profile- raising exercise.

Sponsored events such as swims, bike rides.

Club/group involvement-ie Involvement of church groups- involving congregations in many ways.

Local Business sponsorship

Community donations

Internet shopping- easyfundraising.org.uk. Kirkham and Rural Splash! could be named as a benefactor (Works like Webb Ivory catalogue)

Merchandise- T-shirt, Pin Badges

“Buy a brick” stress that this is a way of raising funds to facilitate running of existing swimming pool, not the building of a new one. Need a visual to go with this, such as a board divided into bricks each displaying the name of the donor.

Swimming events to build up to 2012 Olympics –ie Kirkham Olympics, a number of events including swimming-complete with medals!

Swim in movie-seen this on a US website. “Jaws” or such a film is shown, as customers watch from inflatables in the pool! 

3 Recommendations

Talk to pool staff about aims and progress.

Continue to research pools, contact them for help.
Explore consultancy with Glenn Armstrong at Jesmond Pool.
Delegation to visit Jesmond on fact finding mission.

Continue to liaise with FBC
Regarding lease, staff, facilities etc.

Establish a clear communication strategy.
Kirkham Splash! to formulate a mission statement as per London pools campaign
Create an information file for the swimming pool staff and visitors to access. This would need updating after each action group meeting.

Raise profile
Foster community ownership in the pool via a large fundraising/profile raising community event.
Who will use the facilities and how can these people be targeted?
Each group may need to be approached differently.
Update schools
Involve swimming club
Inform local groups (senior citizens, school districts, and Chambers of Commerce or Scout troops) about opportunities
Identify areas for visual displays ie schools, community centres
Liaise with doctors PCT’s benefits of swimming-can they support baths,

Research community need
Is there a need/demand for a gym? Would a café be used?

Plan a media campaign
Develop contacts with local media. Submit or encourage articles regarding facility features and activities
Regularly update website
Publicise Kirkham pool now via website and media
Ads in community newspapers promoting features and programs.
Ask for memories/stories and photos from the good old days
Radio

Create a fundraising and sponsorship package

              10 FACTS AND FIGURES ON VOLUNTEERING

*  22 million adults are involved in formal volunteering each year
*  10 million people volunteer each week
*  Formal volunteers put in some 90 million hours of voluntary work a week
*  The economic value of formal volunteering has been estimated at over £40 billion  per year
*  One survey found that volunteering was the second greatest source of  individual  joy, behind dancing
*  Six out of ten volunteers said volunteering gave them an opportunity to learn   new  skills
*  Half of all volunteers get involved because they are asked to help
*  90 per cent of the population agree with the notion that a society with volunteers  shows it is a caring society
*  Eight out of ten people feel that volunteers offer something different that  cannot be  provided by the state
*  80 per cent of people reject the idea that volunteers are less efficient than   paid  worker