Daily Archives: November 21, 2012

Perranporth Community Pool Project

Here is an update of the project so far and how we are continuing to raise funds and progress.  We feel there may have been some misunderstanding about parts of the project so hopefully this will help to clarify the process.

Our Aims.

Some of you will have seen the pool in its current state but many of you will not!  It is unheated and getting very shabby. There is no disabled access so some of our friends will struggle to use the pool.  The toilets and changing areas are tatty and we can only really use the pool when the sun is shining…which isn’t very often, if the last few years have been anything to go by!  If you are in any doubt about how desperately  this work needs doing, please ask to have a look at the pool and the surrounding area or talk to the children…they will tell you how cold it is.

Our aim is to

a)      Refurbish and heat our pool using solar thermal energy, install new filtration system and automatic chemical dosing system. Retile the interior of the pool and install safety flooring.

b)      Provide full disabled access to pool and surrounding area .

c)       Enclose the site in a timber structure that will include new changing rooms, solar thermal showers and toilets. This will increase the length of the swimming season from  at least April to end October, if not all year round (Currently it is only useable for 6 weeks in the summer.)

d)      Landscape the surrounding grounds to make the area suitable for spectator seating and a  picnic/recreational space.  The school will be able to hold swimming galas which parents will be able to attend.

e)      Open the facility to other schools, groups and the wider community.  The pool will effectively be available to you at weekends and during school holidays.  You could hold your child’s birthday party there or just attend any open swimming sessions we will hold.

We intend to offer free and low cost swimming where possible…this will truly be a community pool.  Very few primary schools are lucky enough to have their own pool.  Let’s not lose ours.

We are hoping to use local builders and tradesmen where possible so that the project will benefit our community in this way too.  There is also the potential for employment opportunities when the project is completed.

Funding The Project.

We currently estimate that it will cost approx £110k to complete our “wish list” of improvements.  We have raised approx £29k so far.  This is amazing!  FOPS will continue to support the project by holding cake sales, school fairs, quiz nights etc and we really need your continued support in this area.  We are steadily raising over £50 a week just selling cakes and ice creams and it all helps.  Some parents have held other events such as a fun run, zumba party, hair cut days and surf fun days…and we cannot thank you enough.  If you have any ideas for an event you might like to run please let us know.

Jenny and Bec have been applying to lots of regional and national charities and foundations for extra funding.  We have secured pledges of £5k from the council, £15k from Perranporth Gardens Charity, £1k from our Parish Council and many more.  We will be applying to Sport England in the Spring for match funding (one of the National Lottery Funds)  We are anxiously waiting to hear back from the 60 plus charities we have approached…so fingers crossed everyone!

It’s not too late to look at our video on www.peoplefund.it/perranporth-pool and ask your friends and family up country or on Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn etc to make a donation.  Please post the link on the walls of your friends so they can see it too….thanks.  The closing date for this is 27^th November.  If we ALL do this we may reach our target of £25k. (We have £1653 pledged so far by just 45 people)

We do appreciate that money is tight for everybody at the moment but be assured we are not expecting parents to pay for all the work.

Should we not be able to secure our full funding target we have made a contingency plan of work that needs to be done most urgently.  This will include the heating and filtration system and the disabled access.

We have taken steps to ensure the project will be sustainable with minimal overheads for the school. The Friends of Perranporth School will continue to fund raise and support the pool in the years to come.

How Can I help?.

There are many ways!

1.  Buy or make some cakes on a Friday
2. Come to the Christmas Fair (see school newsletter for dates)
3. Look on People Fund It and share the link or make a pledge
4. Mention our project to your friends and neighbours you never know who might like to help.
5.  Suggest or offer to run an event.  (Just let us know and we’ll help you to advertise it and get support.)
6. Do you have any contacts in the building trade, swimming pool trade etc that might be able to help?

We will continue to keep you up to date on developments by flyers, posters, the school newsletter and word of mouth.  Soon, we will have a fantastic facility for us all to enjoy.

If you have any further questions, ideas  or concerns about the project please talk to Bec or Jenny who can be found most days at pick up under the covered area.  (Any member of FOPS will also be able to answer your questions or talk to Mrs Martin.)