About Us
Our school is in the heart of the community - and during the pandemic we have taken every possible step to ensure that we have been reaching out to use our facilities for the good of all.
The one key resource we cannot currently hire out is our pool. Can you help?
The total in our Splash for Cash pool appeal is creeping up, but will not be enough on its own.
To secure grant funding we need to show that the wider community will benefit by describing ways in which the community will access the pool, and demonstrating that there is a demand for it within our locality – and we need these answers fast!
If you could take two minutes of your time to complete our survey Splash for Cash- St Mary’s pool we would be very grateful.
Please pass this on to anyone and everyone you know in our area who might support.
Why we're raising money
Splash for Cash - Save our Pool
Reality check:
· The pool has reached the end of its natural life: it needs a new liner, new pump, new filters and new drains.
· We cannot justify the expense of doing this whilst the negative environmental impact of the pool being outdoor, heated and uncovered remains so high
· The size of the school now means that we would struggle to give all junior children meaningful numbers of swimming lessons when only using the pool in the summer term
· The building alterations mean that we have much smarter toilets for year 3 and 4 but we no longer have changing rooms/showers which can be used for swimming
BUT – if we were able to invest we could:
· Do all the necessary maintenance and extend provision
· Open it up for community use – because if it was running all year the school would not need it all the time
· Help support the national issue of large numbers of children who have not learnt to swim due to the pandemic
· Continue our mission to ensure that our school and its facilities benefit the whole community
Staff, children and parents have told us they want to keep the pool so we have done our homework and have a plan!
· Cover the pool with a glass cover
· Replace liner and drains
· Add an automated safety cover (also helps heat retention)
· Build cabin changing rooms
· Refresh the paving slabs
· Re build walls and steps, and reshape the middle entrance to the school to allow for independent access by the community
· Create a decking area/waiting area for parents
The total cost of the project is estimated to be £145,000.
The school has identified around £70K of potential funds within current budgets, and hopes through events like the Fun Run and Festival in the Field to raise around 10K more.
In order to have the project completed in time for the new swimming season in April 2022 we would need to have broken the back of the remaining 65K from other sources by October 2021
Can we do it?
It’s a huge ask – but we’re hoping that we can find about half from within our school community (as we did for the MUGA) and the rest from outside grants or rich benefactors!
