Share of £20 Million pot secured to keep community pools afloat

Bromsgrove District Council is proud to announce that it has been awarded a share of the £20 million Swimming Pool Relief Fund, a vital lifeline for swimming pools and leisure centres across the nation.

Just over £24k of funding will go towards Bromsgrove Sport and Leisure Centre to assist in covering increased operating costs as well as contributing to improving the long-term sustainability of the centre.

The funds aim to address challenges posed by rising energy and maintenance costs faced by leisure centres across the country and is part of the government's broader effort to support grassroots sports facilities and achieve its ambitious target of getting 3.5 million more people active by 2030.

Wayne Desmond, Contract Manager for Everyone Active who operate BSLC, said: "We're delighted to have been awarded £24k from the Government's Swimming Pool Support Fund, which will go a long way in helping children in the local community to become confident swimmers.

“We're extremely grateful to Bromsgrove District Council for submitting a bid. The funds will go towards energy and maintenance costs, which will help us to continue to provide excellent swimming facilities and our award-winning swimming lessons. Most importantly, children and adults of all ages can be more active."

Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services, Cllr Steve Colella, said: “I am pleased that our bid was successful and thank you to our officers for taking the time to prepare and submit the bid so that as a result we can ensure that our pool remains accessible to our residents. Learning to swim can save lives and providing more opportunity for residents of all ages to take advantage of that can only be good news."

Swimming is a valuable life skill that impacts safety, physical health, and mental well-being for people of all ages. Swim England's latest Value of Swimming report has highlighted the social value of water-based activities, such as swimming, amounting to £2.4 billion annually.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England's Director of Place, said: "We know just how vital swimming pools and leisure centres are to our nation's activity levels. Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as local authorities and operators battle the challenge of increased energy and maintenance costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff. This is by no means the end of the work facing us or the support available, as we continue to work with our partners to ensure the long-term viability of these vital community resources."

Administered by Sport England, the fund provides a total of £60 million, over two phases, to local authorities in England as a support package for public leisure facilities with swimming pools.

The allocation of funds in this phase, to 103 local authorities, benefiting 196 leisure centres and swimming pools, will support over 23 million swims a year collectively, meaning millions of people across the country will have the chance to stay fit and healthy, contributing to the Government’s aim to cut obesity rates and get millions more people active.

More details about the Swimming Pool Support Fund are available here: www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/facilities-and-planning/swimming-pool-support-fund