Poolside Chat News from the Charity Securing the Future of Hampton Pool
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hampton pool trust Poolside Chat News from the charity securing the future of Hampton Pool WINTER 2013 Hampton Pool Trust is a small independent not for profit company and educational charity. It is run by volunteers with a vision to maintain Hampton Pool as a safe, welcoming, enjoyable, sustainable and inspirational heated, public open air swimming environment, all year round. Registered in England No 1870925, limited by guarantee. Charity No 294117 Get on board! Would you like to become Exciting developments a member or Trustee of Hampton Pool Trust? Hampton Pool Trust members are for the building passionate about the facility and how it is run. If you care about the future of the pool then why not become a member of the ‘company’, or even a Trustee? by Daphne Wharton Contents: A company? Letter from Hampton Pool Trust is registered as the HPT Chair both a charity and a company. The In 2011 the Board published its strategic vision for the pool which page 2 company owns the building and the pool and exists to secure the long term identified three themes: enhanced facilities and programmes; excellence New Trustees page 2 future of the pool for community use. in customer service and governance; and inspirational sustainability. Summer Picnic Concerts update page 3 Limited liability and responsibility Each member of the company is liable aking this into account and the views and so renewable energy is a key element of Operations update page 4 in the unlikely scenario of bankruptcy Texpressed by members, customers and the the development plan. The board propose that – but it is limited to only £25. There are wider community through two public open geothermal with underground pipe or bore hole Poolside Swim & BBQ over 40 members of the company and forums and an online survey in 2013, the Board technologies should be considered as the main Club news page 4 they elect the Board of Trustees who are has decided on a plan that will incorporate all the source of energy. Combined solar voltaic and solar responsible for the general oversight of We are a charity that the running of the pool. benefits sought by customers, staff and members thermal heating panels should also be considered depends on voluntary – improved gym, fitness studio, reception, café, and incorporated where appropriate. The Board is assistance and donations Become a Trustee staff facilities, changing facilities, car park and also committed to ensuring that any new car park to secure the future HPT Trustees attend a Board meeting social access. These improvements are to be surface should be environmentally sound and both of the pool. once a month to oversee YMCA LSW’s delivered through an envelope of development wheelchair and bicycle friendly and that all new If you can help in (our appointed managing agent) which would be located at the west end of the build materials should minimise embedded carbon. any way, please get day-to-day operations of the pool site to minimize reduction in the car park. It in touch with us at and to progress the HPT strategic plan. The current plan is to start with the new build at info@hamptonpooltrust. was agreed that every effort should be made to the west end to create a larger gym and studio org.uk Sound interesting? If you are minimise the disruption of the pool’s facilities with additional locker space. This would provide passionate about Hampton Pool and and day to day running and that disruption would space for socially inclusive gym equipment and Thanks to the London would like to join the team aiming be minimised if a new build was undertaken to make it an inspiration for the generate higher revenues. The existing studio Borough of Richmond first.The additional space created by a new build upon Thames, Hampton popularity of sustainable, open air could become a multi-function space – spin cycle would facilitate the remodelling, repurposing Fuel Allotment Charity swimming, and the good management studio, meeting room, courses room, club room. and extension of the existing building with the and the local community of a local community facility, then The existing gym could be repurposed as a multi- please contact daphne.wharton@ minimum of disruption. The aim is to fund the for their financial functional space, children’s activity area, change hamptonpooltrust.org.uk development of the entire envelope or if this is support. area, staff area. not possible to identify discrete chunks that can Get in touch be funded sequentially. The new build will join and extend past the existing main building to the proposed new We welcome your contributions Inspirational sustainability is at the heart of and feedback. Please drop us a line northern building line. Continued on page 3 HPT’s vision for the future of Hampton Pool at [email protected] HPT Chair’s letter Meet the Welcome to our winter 2013 edition of Poolside Chat new Trustees hampton pool trust After an uncertain start to 2013, with a cold, wet spring and early summer, Andy Cowper the sun finally got its hat on and came out for days and days and days. So what was beginning to look like a financially challenging year suddenly I moved to Hampton in 2006, and along with my wife Briony, have been a regular (if not particularly fast) turned around into a positive financial forecast and a “summer to swimmer at Hampton Pool ever since. Our children, remember” at Hampton Pool for all ages in the community. Joshua and Rosa, learned to swim here at the pool, and we are all very appreciative of the the additional comments there seems to be a facility and its excellent staff. clear steer towards customers being happy with I work as a journalist, writing about the current mix of activities so long as it is well the management and politics of managed and changes communicated effectively the NHS. My other hobbies include in advance: 66% (37 of 56) said that they though music, cooking and reading. If the current balance was good, 7% (4 of 56) you see me around and have any commented on lane hire as being a problem, comments about how the pool can continue to meet your needs, feel 3.5% (2 of 56) expressed concerns about swim free to have a chat: I’ll be happy to lessons. As a result of the questionnaire responses hear them. the Board has formulated a more detailed policy for the management to consider when planning changes to the normal timetable. Joe Tarragano I hope that you were able to enjoy what open The Hampton Pool Consultative Group continues I’m a triathlete living in Hampton, but rather than to meet regularly and feedback your opinions to air pools are all about – the summer holiday getting the training in and thrashing up and down the experience in a local setting. The Board appreciate the management. If you are a general swim user pool I am more likely to be found at the side watching that Hampton Pool staff worked incredibly of the pool or you or your children enjoy swim my two small kids having lessons or on the grass hard for a very long period of consecutive peak lessons at the pool or you are a gym user and you listening to a concert. But I am delighted that we’ve capacity days, so a big thank you to all staff. have the time to come to three meetings a year got this wonderful resource on Thanks also to staff for organising the spectacular to help improve the quality of the service offered our doorstep and am pleased my Family Fun Day. to Hampton Pool users, please contact family’s Christmas day tradition [email protected]. involves a swim (and that it’s a Summer Picnic Concerts tradition I avoided as a child when The fine weather was also an added bonus to our The management agreement my local outdoor option would fundraising concerts. Concert goers were provided We are now in the sixth year of our management have been a chilly Hampstead with balmy, sunny evenings to complement and contract with the YMCA LSW and I am pleased to ponds). enhance the exceptional musical line up of The say that HPT is very happy with the continuity of My professional experience is Carpenters Story, Show of Hands, The Zombies, management and improvements in the programme almost entirely with internet ABC, Midge Ure and a double bill of Nearly Dan that the contract has delivered. We are also very companies, from the big (eBay) and the Illegal Eagles. Customers expressed their appreciative of the investment in maintenance and to the small (my own business) in sales, product development delight with the quality of the music and the updating of the infrastructure of the pool that the and marketing, and I hope I can use this to help unusual intimacy of the venue as well as the good partnership approach has delivered. However, as the pool with keeping itself afloat. weather. Unfortunately the weather broke on a due diligence exercise, as recommended by the the last night but the sheer excitement of Nearly Charity Commission, we have been investigating Dan and the Illegal Eagles lifted the spirits of the alternative not for profit leisure companies, visiting crowd above the weather. Thanks are due to Tim flagship facilities Charlton Lido and High Wickham Lawes who masterminded the band selection Lido. We have also met with the Trustees of YMCA and to Club who provided support for these LSW. The next stage in the process of renewing valuable fund raising concerts in so many ways the contract in 2017 is to ask these organisations Going green – or should from helping with the roadshows to publicise the if they are interested in tendering for a 10 year that be an LED White Christmas? events to running the bar – a full-on experience management contract.