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The Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool Association is a formally constituted charity that was formed with the aim to establish and maintain an open-air swimming pool for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Stanhope and Weardale area. Opened in 1974 and well enjoyed, it is the only public, heated, open-air pool in the County. In recent years the quality of the pool has been increasingly recognised by Stanhope residents and visitors alike. League water polo matches are regularly staged at Stanhope throughout the summer and the pool plays a pivotal role in the Wear Valley Triathlon event staged in June. The pool currently receives over 7,500 visitors per year. The charity has a 10 strong voluntary management committee, with a further 15 volunteers helping with other duties including cleaning and maintenance. A rota of Lifeguards are employed during the season and paid from ticket and café sales.
The
charity has recently been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,
these awards acknowledge the work of groups who devote their time to helping
others in the community; who improve the quality of life and opportunity for
others and who provide an outstanding service.
In the past the Swimming Pool Association has received funding for pool refurbishment, landscaping, refurbishment of the changing rooms and for the purchase of a toddler slide. Most recently the Association received £2,000 to recruit and train people to become volunteer lifeguards.
This funding paid for a further 6 lifeguards to be trained. This was a valuable opportunity for children from local secondary schools and colleges to receive lifeguard training. Without this grant the Association would not have had enough qualified lifeguards for the pool to stay open.
The Open Air Pool benefits the whole community and also attracts tourists. They encourage children to learn to swim as a priority in this rural area of rivers, reservoirs and flooded quarries. This is an area deprived of facilities and funding has allowed the Committee to organise water sport events, competitions and school galas. In addition advanced swimming lessons, exercise classes to promote good health, and snorkelling and diving sessions are being organised. On summer days, the pool is the nearest thing that many deprived children of the area ever get to a holiday.
“These grants have made the swimming pool a much more enjoyable experience, it is now a safer place for the children and other users. It looks more attractive too. We are more popular than ever thanks to County Durham Foundation.”
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