Swim Nation NEWS

Historic Portishead open air pool reopens after £1.7m revamp

The historic open-air pool in Portishead, Bristol, has reopened after a major £1.7m refurbishment.

The redevelopment, funded in part by the government’s Community Ownership Fund, included replacing the ageing boiler system and upgrading the changing rooms.

First opened in 1962, the open air, 33m-pool was threatened with closure in 2008, when North Somerset Council produced a report in 2008 that determined that the pool was a financial liability and that it should be closed.

A group of six local people then formed a company limited by guarantee – which then became Portishead Pool Community Trust – in order to save and run the pool. The Trust managed to convince the Council that it had a feasible business plan to run the pool, and in early 2009 a 99-year lease was agreed with the Council, securingthe pool’s long-term future.

The pool was shut last year to enable the works, which also included making it more environmentally sustainable – such as the installation of solar panels to cut energy costs.

“Our pool refurbishment is complete and we are open for the heated season,” a spokesperson for the trust said.

“The Café has re-opened following refurbishment and is now open Monday to Sunday.”

Alliance: surge in energy prices shows why sector needs help

The spike in energy prices following events in Iran and across the Middle East has shown the financial risks to swimming pools – and the need for support.

That is the message from the Swimming Alliance, after the price of gas in the UK surged by more than 46%, pushing it to its highest price for three years.

“With 76% of the publicly accessible water space lost in the past 15 years disappearing since 2020, the impact of huge increases in costs on pool operators is clear,” the Alliance said in a statement. ““The previous spike in energy costs required the government to step in with the Swimming Pool Support Fund.”

Swim England and Stoke partner for Learn to Swim

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is partnering with Swim England to deliver a Learn to Swim Programme across the city, strengthening opportunities for local residents to develop vital life skills in the water.

Through the adoption of Swim England’s Learn to Swim Programme, Stoke residents will benefit from a structured pathway from first entering the water through to developing lifelong aquatic skills.

The delivery of the Learn to Swim programme will be supported by Swim England’s teams, who will work closely with members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council across its leisure facilities, including Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Dimensions Leisure Centre and New Horizons Sport and Leisure Centre. The partnership will provide workforce training, ongoing technical guidance and support.

Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Swimming is a vital skill and this partnership supports our wider ambitions to improve health outcomes for all and ensure all can participate in physical activity.”

“Major step forward” for £35m leisure centre

Kirklees Council has begun developing detailed proposals for a new leisure centre to serve the towns of Dewsbury and Batley in West Yorkshire.

Described as a “major step” for the plans, the work comes after the project secured £35m worth of funding at the council’s budget meeting on 25 February 2026.

“The next stage will include engaging experts in sports, leisure and health to help us to shape a facility that delivers long-term benefits for local communities,” the council said in a statement.

“That work will make sure the centre has the right mix of facilities to make a real and lasting difference to health and wellbeing for people in Dewsbury, Batley and across North Kirklees.”

The facility mix will include a swimming pool. A health club, featuring a large gym and studios, and an indoor sports provision are also likely to be included. Specialist consultants are expected to be appointed as the next step of the project.

Airdrie pool reopens following major refurbishment

The John Smith Swimming Pool in Airdrie has reopened to the public in April, after the completion of a significant refurbishment programme.

The works have delivered a brighter and more modern facility, with improvements including the replacement of themovable pool floor, extensive retiling of the pool tank walls and regrouting of the pool floor.

Visitors will also benefit from new accessible pool stairs, a fully refurbished pool filtration system and upgrades to both the water treatment system and the building’s heating system.

Nottingham to offer free holiday swimming for under-16s

Nottingham City Council has announced a free swimming programme for under-16s, providing 22,000 free swimming spaces during school holidays from July 2026 to February 2027. Backed by £197,000 of investment, the programme will help more children and young people across the city to access swimming.

The scheme will run across 49 school holiday days, offering free, structured public swimming sessions at all six Active Nottingham Leisure Centres owned by Nottingham City Council: Clifton, Djanogly, Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Ken Martin, Southglade and Victoria Leisure Centre.

Sessions will take place on weekdays during school holiday periods (excluding bank holidays). Support will also be available to help children who are non-swimmers or who lack confidence in the water. The scheme is open to Nottingham City resident school-age children under the age of 16. In line with the Pool Admission Policy, children under eight must be accompanied by a responsible adult or person aged 16+, who will be able to attend at no cost.

SfC opens Poolpod in Saffron Walden

Sport for Confidence has launched a new pool lift, known as a ‘Poolpod’, at the Lord Butler Leisure Centre in Saffron Walden.

The installation will give people who face physical, sensory or cognitive barriers the opportunity to access the pool easily, safely and with dignity, enabling more individuals to enjoy the therapeutic and social benefits of swimming.

The centre is owned by Uttlesford District Council and operated by 1Life.

Sarah Wright, Sport for Confidence Senior Occupational Therapist based at the centre, said: “In addition to the well-known physical benefits of swimming, being in water provides a range of therapeutic advantages, making it an ideal activity for many people with physical, sensory or cognitive difficulties.

Sport for Confidence launched at Lord Butler Leisure Centre in early 2025 and has worked closely with 1Life on activities.

Baby Swimming Teacher Week launches amid teacher shortage

The world’s first International Baby Swimming Teacher Week took place in March, celebrating the professionals who introduce babies and toddlers to the water – and shining a light on growing workforce challenges facing the sector.

The awareness week has been created to recognise the unique role baby swimming teachers play in early childhood development, helping families build confidence, connection and foundational water safety skills from the very earliest age. It was delivered across a network of baby swimming providers, including Turtle Tots’ nationwide franchise network of more than 180 teachers.

£35m wellbeing hub with three pools set for summer opening

The £35m Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub in Hartlepool is set for a summer opening, after construction of the flagship facility has entered the final fit-out stage.

Located at The Waterfront within Hartlepool marina, the facility will replace the old Mill House Leisure Centre, which opened its doors in 1972 and has now reached the end of its operational life.

Designed by GT3 Architects, the centre will feature three swimming pools: an 25m eight-lane main pool, a 25m four-lane learner pool with moveable floor and leisure pool with race slide and interactive water play features.

In addition, there will be a large health club with a 100-station gym, two inter-connected fitness studios and dedicated indoor cycling studio.

Other facilities will include active and soft play areas, function and meeting rooms, a café with panoramic seating overlooking the marina and NHS consultation suites, built as part of a partnership with University Hospitals Tees.

RLSS UK rolls out updated CPR and first aid training

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has implemented comprehensive updates to CPR and First Aid training across its qualifications and awards, following the latest Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) guidelines.

The changes, introduced on 1 May 2026, follow several months of work to update RLSS UK’s training content and support materials.

The revised guidance covers areas including faster early response from bystanders, immediate calls to emergency services, enhanced use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and changes to infant compression technique.

RLSS UK said the updates are now an integral part of all relevant qualifications and awards. The organisation worked closely with its Clinical Governance Group and RCUK to understand how the new guidance should be applied across its training portfolio.

STA appoints Alex Barrett as new Head of Aquatics

The Swimming Teachers Association (STA) has appointed Alex Barrett as its new Head of Aquatics. In the role, Barrett will help lead and develop STA’s aquatic offering, supporting members, enhancing learn to swim products and qualifications and drive the growth and development of STA’s aquatic portfolio and team.

Barrett has 14+ years’ experience across the physical activity and aquatics sectors and joins the STA from Swim England, where he held the role of National Participation and Growth Manager. There, he led work focused on strengthening long-term sustainability and expanding participation opportunities.