Spitfire Advice and Support Services Limited is a charity that exists to provide help, support and information to the most isolated and excluded communities in Birmingham and the wider region of the West Midlands. Unlike many other organization's, Spitfire Advice and Support Services Limited is a very unique organisation, that sits at the heart of the community.
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Inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in November 1981, Castle Pool has been a health and leisure haven for people across the Castle Vale estate for nearly 40 years – used regularly by residents, schools, and swimming clubs.
Life in the lanes at Castle Pool has not always been as confident or as certain. Back in 2012, Birmingham City Council had earmarked the pool for permanent closure – following a citywide evaluation of council run services that would see a swarm of facilities shut down for good.
However, the people of Castle Vale fought fearlessly to save Castle Pool – in a campaign started by local resident Amanda Cutler, that became the Castle Vale Pool Users Group.
“My son swam here for years, he swam here since he was four years of age,” tells Amanda, who now works at Castle Pool as the Pool Support Officer.
“He was doing lessons at the time, then all of a sudden someone said the pool may be closing. So, I started a petition.
“There were a lot of pools closing down and this is the only facility on the Castle Vale estate for children. We were teaching children how to swim, for free. And we didn’t want that to stop.
“My son has now become a swimming teacher and a lifeguard here. So, it’s created jobs too. But swimming is a life skill; everybody needs to know how to swim. "Enlisting the further support of the Castle Vale based Advice and Support agency Spitfire Services, the Castle Pool Community Partnership charity was formed in 2014 – allowing campaigners to get the checks, balances, and bank account in place for Birmingham City Council to agree an asset transfer. On 16th January that year, the responsibility of running Castle Pool was put directly into the hands of people who live and work on the Castle Vale estate.
Spitfire Services charity family of services.
“The reason is… the model is, making use of the pool from 6am to 10pm seven days a week. Or as much of it as you can. Having a mixture of (paid) staff and volunteers, and actually using your staff in the best way you can.
However because of the cost of living Crisis and Covid 19 the pool is facing massive challenges in terms of repairs and we need to secure approximately £ 30,000 to rebuild the plant room and update the facilities. Please help us to save this well loved swimming pool.