A new community fund raising initiatives group is to be set up to help Settle Area Swimming Pool tackle its serious financial crisis.
The move came out of an open evening on pool finances attended by well over a hundred pool supporters.
The new group will consist mainly of volunteers whose task is both to come up with new ideas and implement some of the suggestions made at the open evening.
They will work closely with the pool trustees and aim to build on the many initiatives already in place. Supporters wishing to join the group, who have not already been in touch with Elaine Owen, should send their contact details to secretary@settleswimmingpool.co.uk or leave a note at the pool or either of the two pool charity shops.
In welcoming those attending the open evening, pool chair Colin Coleman said Settle pool was not alone in facing severe financial problems. He cited a recent Swim England report that showed that hundreds of public pools across England had closed in the past few years and predicted that many more would follow over the next decade.
Giving the background to the current problems, secretary Ian Orton said that in the mid-2010s when local authority funding was cut there was a serious danger that the pool, then 40 years old, would close. It had only been saved by the establishment of the charity shop that now generates almost £80,000 a year. Sport England had strongly recommended the rebuild programme that was completed in autumn 2022. The sports body had provided £200,000 of support. “It was the only option open to us,” Ian said.
Speaking on the current issues, trustee Iain Crossley said the pool was currently losing £10,000 a month. Much of this was due to a gas bill of around £6,000. The pool was in a long-term contract with the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, the public sector procurement group that provides services to many organisations including schools and colleges. Whilst this had initially been very beneficial, prices were now well above the market rate. Despite efforts to get out of the contract, including the intervention of MP Julian Smith, it had proved impossible to do so before April 2025. Prices were expected to fall substantially in the spring when usage would also go down. But this alone would not cover the monthly deficit and would continue to eat into the reserves currently standing at around £75,000.
Treasurer Rosie Sanderson outlined the range of measures already taken to cut expenditure and increase income.
Following a health and safety inspection, changes had been made to lifeguard coverage and the timetable had been revised to cut out badly attended sessions and increase the availability of the most popular ones. Plans were in hand for a promotional leaflet, financed by the Settle Stingrays group, to go to all households in the area via Royal Mail. The second charity shop had been opened and new sources of grants for specific projects, such as additional solar panels, were being pursued. A new membership scheme had been introduced to benefit regular users as well as increase predictable income. In the longer term the possibility of establishing and charging for a campervan park was being examined with North Yorkshire Council – such a scheme had proved a major money maker for a comparable Scottish pool.
Anne Galloway, who was recently named as North Yorkshire Volunteer of the Year for her work with the pool, spoke about the important role of volunteers both in the charity shops and helping in the café and on reception at the pool. She said there were currently around 40 volunteers who helped run the shops and undertake tasks such as checking electrical goods and seeking out items of particular value but more help was needed, most especially for the online sales team that generated substantial amounts of income.
Pool manager Tash Ward spoke of the importance of maximising use of the pool facilities. Use has grown substantially following the re-opening but there is still a lot of potential for further use. It was a matter of ‘use it or lose it.’
Overall there were 22 contributions from those attending the meeting and secretary Ian Orton said a report would be posted on the pool website.
Suggestions for fund-raising included the further encouragement of regular donations; the setting up of a ‘patron’ category; and the organisation of regular sponsored events. Special mention was made of the pool team entry in the Skipton Rotary Club dragon boat event to be held at Coniston Hall on May 12. There was a need for paddlers to join the crew and, especially, for sponsorship.
The crucial role of the pool in teaching young people to swim was stressed by Vee Walker, who had been involved in the pool since its creation and who recently wrote a full page article in the Craven Herald on the importance of ensuring the pool remained open. Her remarks were echoed by 20 year old swimming teacher Lotte Harrison who spoke of dangers of young non-swimmers playing in open water.
Finally, North Yorkshire Council member David Staveley was asked how he could help the pool. He said that he had recently used part of his ward funding to support the installation of cc-tv and that a further tranche of funding from Sport England was now open and had been applied for, but like others he did not underestimate the challenge facing the pool and its supporters.
Report by Mike Smith
