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Funding bid success for Gedling Borough Swimming Pools
Date Posted: 9:16 AM on Mon, 6 November 2023Gedling Borough Council has been awarded over £127,000 from the Government’s Swimming Pool Fund, following a successful submission to Sport England.
fficers from the council’s Leisure and Finance teams submitted a detailed application for the funding, which was created to support local authority swimming pools with the increased costs associated with energy price rises.
A total of £127,525 has been awarded to the council and will be used to help with the costs of running swimming facilities at Arnold Leisure Centre, Calverton Leisure Centre, and Carlton Forum Leisure Centre.
Since November 2022 the costs to heat these leisure centres has increased by £27,400 per month.
The council has also applied for further funding from Phase 2 of Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. If successful, the Phase 2 funding will be used to upgrade the council’s swim facilities to become more energy efficient and would support the council’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said;
“I’m delighted to announce that we have been successful in securing this much needed funding from Sport England, contributing towards the energy costs of running our pools and ensuring we can continue to offer these leisure facilities to our residents.
We know how important swimming facilities are, not only providing a place where residents can learn a lifesaving skill, but also somewhere to socialise, and support physical and mental wellbeing. It’s so important that we continue to make these facilities accessible to our residents, and thanks to funding like this we can continue to do so.
I’d like to thank our Leisure and Finance teams for their outstanding work on this application, and to Sport England for providing these vital funds for our leisure services.”
Sport England's Director of Place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne said
"We know just how vital swimming pools and leisure centres are to our nation’s activity levels, which is why Sport England is proud to have played a central role in the delivery of this fund.
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.
Today’s announcement is an important moment in time, but 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.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“Leisure centres and pools are vital for millions of people to stay fit and healthy, and we know that many public swimming pools are experiencing greater pressure due to increased operating costs.
We have heard their concerns and have stepped in to help them make ends meet with £20 million immediate relief, and a further £40 million to help improve sustainability of public swimming pools over the long term.
This is part of our support for grassroots sports facilities with more than £400 million in order to achieve our ambitious target of getting 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”