WiveyPool

About WiveyPool

Nestled in the heart of Wiveliscombe in the beautiful Somerset countryside, WiveyPool has been a cherished community hub since 1927.  The pool has long been a place where generations have learned to swim, forged friendships, and enjoyed the simple pleasure of an open-air dip.

As a charity, we depend heavily on grants and community fundraising to maintain and improve our facilities while keeping entry fees affordable. Operational costs have risen significantly in recent years - especially staffing, maintenance, and energy. Although we are fortunate to benefit from solar and renewable energy sources, their reliability is at the mercy of the great British weather!

We are committed to expanding what we offer and continuously improving our facilities. Recent upgrades include a state-of-the-art pool hoist, provided by Sport England funded by the National Lottery, which has greatly improved accessibility. We now offer a wide range of activities, including Adult Quiet Swims, swimming lessons and coaching for all ages, lifesaving courses, aqua fitness classes, moonlit swims, and water polo for both children and adults.

We’re particularly keen to expand our work with local schools, youth groups, and individuals. Alarmingly, nearly 40% of children leave school unable to swim. With additional funding, we can teach more children essential water safety and lifesaving skills.

Your support can make a real difference. Donations will help fund:

• Subsidised memberships for those less well off
• Day-to-day running costs and vital equipment upgrades
• Lifeguard training and qualifications
• Rookie Lifeguards and National Lifesaving Academy programmes for children aged 8+
• A multi-functional Pool House, offering a warm, welcoming communal space for swimmers, schools, spectators, and staff. The building will include a new accessible toilet for pool and Recreation Ground users

Our Vision - The Pool House

Now, as we approach our 100th anniversary, we’re looking ahead to ensure that WiveyPool remains a vibrant and welcoming space for years to come. We want more people to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of swimming - whether it's learning to swim, meeting friends, or simply enjoying the water. That’s why we need to create a multifunctional Pool House, designed to enhance the experience for everyone who visits and extend our opening season.

The Pool House will provide:

• A communal warm sheltered space for swimmers and spectators to congregate
• A safe and engaging area where school children can develop essential lifesaving skills through our Rookie Lifeguard and National Lifesaving Academy programmes
• A dedicated training room for teachers, staff, lifeguards and volunteers
• A versatile community event space for gatherings and meetings 
• An accessible toilet, for all pool visitors and users of the Recreation Ground

In April 2025, we submitted a planning application to Somerset Council for the creation of a multifunctional building - The Pool House. This new facility will be built on the existing footprint of our current shop/kitchen, and storage garages, which have been generously gifted to us by Wiveliscombe War Memorial Recreation Ground. Our design includes a dedicated entrance to The Pool House while retaining the current entrance to the pool, allowing both spaces to operate independently for different events when needed. Inside, The Pool House will offer a welcoming area with tables, chairs, and a servery, where staff and volunteers can provide refreshments to swimmers, spectators, and visitors. The space will also host our ‘dry-side’ lifeguard training and lifesaving courses and community events and meetings.  If permitted, we hope to include a roof terrace, accessible from the poolside, where spectators can relax and enjoy views of the pool.  One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the creation of a fully accessible toilet for all. Currently, users of the Recreation Ground have no access to public toilet facilities. Alongside our new pool hoist, this addition will make visits to the pool significantly more convenient and enjoyable for people with limited mobility.

Our Objective

The pool temperature sits at a comfortable 26°C (dropping to 18°C off-season), but outdoor conditions can swing from -3°C to the high 20s in a single day. Wind and rain add to the challenge of staying comfortable before and after swimming - especially for children, older adults, those with limited mobility, teachers, staff, and spectators.

Many of our lane swimmers (aged from 9 to 94) often gather post-swim for a chat over tea - forming friendships, sharing stories, and sometimes enjoying homemade cakes or sausage rolls. During open Come & Swim sessions, visitors relax poolside or watch from the deck. But while our open-air setting is a unique draw, poor weather often keeps people away.

Our limited  facilities are a barrier to wider community engagement. Currently, we rely on gazebos to shelter swimmers, staff, and spectators from the elements. In addition, the absence of an accessible toilet is a significant issue for pool users and visitors to the Recreation Ground - including those using the children’s play area, skate park, sports clubs, and other local amenities. 

The Pool House would offer vital protection and better working conditions for our staff, lifeguards, and volunteers. With proper shelter, WiveyPool becomes a more attractive place to work and volunteer, enabling us to extend the season, add more lessons, water-based classes and swim sessions to more people for longer.

The benefits of swimming go beyond physical fitness - being in the fresh air, socialising, and participating in group activities all support mental wellbeing and help combat isolation and loneliness.  The Pool House will help realise our vision and extend the benefits of WiveyPool to more people in the community.

Timing

Ideally, we aim to have planning approval, funding, and a contractor secured by the end of summer 2025. To minimise disruption for our swimmers, construction of The Pool House needs to take place over the winter, ready for our spring 2026 opening.

The Cost

The estimated cost of the build is approximately £250,000. We have already budgeted £100,000 and are applying for grants that we hope will provide a further £90,000. This leaves us with a £60,000 gap - an amount we aim to raise with the support of our wonderful community to bring this exciting project to life.

Should we exceed our expectations, additional funds will go toward higher-spec, energy-efficient building materials and fitting out the Pool House with equipment such as a projector - ideal for training, meetings, and events.  

The 1927 Swim Challenge
 

To celebrate our heritage and raise funds for The Pool House, we’re inviting everyone to take part in our 1927 Swim Challenge!

Participants can sign up at the pool and pledge to swim a total of 1927 lengths. Each swimmer’s progress will be recorded in a dedicated logbook at the pool. You can collect sponsorship either per length completed or for your total distance. We can even help you set up your own Crowdfunder fundraising profile to make it easier for you to share your progress to friends, family and supporters. 

The challenge is open to everyone - whether you’re a seasoned swimmer aiming for the full 1,927 lengths, or you prefer a more achievable target like 192.7 or even 19.27 lengths. Every effort counts!

You can also team up with friends or family to complete the challenge together. The event runs for three months, from 1st June to 31st August, giving you plenty of time to reach your goal.

All participants will receive a unique wristband upon registration, and there will be special rewards for those who raise the most funds.

Other ways to help

Every contribution, big or small, will help bring this vision to life.  Whether you donate, support our other fundraising initiatives or help spread the word, you’ll be playing a part in securing WiveyPool’s future.  Thank you.