News & Events

The pool has received a grant of £20,000 as part of the second phase of the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. This phase is specifically aimed at helping pools become more energy efficient and the Settle money will be used to extend our bank of solar panels, which have helped cut our electricity bill since being installed two years ago.

Commenting on the award pool chair Colin Coleman said: "We are delighted that Settle Pool has been successful in our bid for funding from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. This grant will enable us to add to our bank of solar panels and so both reduce our energy costs and make the pool more environmentally efficient.

"The award is a welcome boost to our efforts to address the serious financial problems that we have faced in recent months. We were of course disappointed that we did not receive funding in the first round of bids to the Swimming Pool Support Fund, which was aimed at helping pools facing rising costs, but have been heartened by the way the local community has rallied round to show their support for the pool in recent months.

“All our efforts to turn round a difficult financial situation are starting to bear fruit. We are by no means out of the wood and still need to make more efforts to ensure our long term future. But things are now looking better and this grant, whilst not directly related to day-to-day funding, does show a degree of support for the pool from this national body which is very welcome."

You can read the full Sport England announcement here: https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/swimming-pool-support-fund-helps-facilities-prepare-future

The North Yorkshire Council statement is here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/2024/cash-awards-help-energy-efficiency-four-swimming-pools

Settle Rotary Club President Colin Renwick joined pool manager Tash Ward on the new spin bikes now in use for classes at Settle Pool, to present a cheque for £2,000 resulting from the club’s recent Merry-Go-Round dinner, at which diners go from venue to venue for each course of a three course meal.

The donation is a further welcome boost to pool funds following the recent financial crisis, which at one time looked as though it might threaten the pool with imminent closure.

Tash said: “We are grateful to Settle Rotary for this generous donation. It not only helps us keep going but allows us to acquire equipment like the spinbikes that ensure we can offer more facilities for more groups and develop our standing as much more than just a pool.”

Our New Spring Newsletter has arrived hot off the press. To read up on all the latest news at the pool please follow this link > Our Newsletters (settleswimmingpool.co.uk)

Settle Pool has once again entered a team in Skipton Rotary Dragon Boat Regatta to be held at Coniston Hall Lake on Sunday May 12.

This time we are raising funds to provide gym equipment for our new fitSpace area, ensuring that we live up to our billing as ‘more than just a pool’.

The local community  rallied round splendidly as we faced a financial crisis last winter. Thanks to that support and a range of measures we have taken things are starting to look up.

But we now need to ensure that the pool operates on a long-term sustainable basis and that means making full use of all our facilities.

Our exercise classes are increasingly popular as are our pool-based activities. But what we now need is to hire a range of gym equipment so we can offer more to all sections of the local community and help the pool live up to its full potential.

That is what our team will be paddling for at Coniston Hall on May 12.

You can help firstly by sponsoring our paddlers, here at our just giving page

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sasp-dragonboat-2024

You can also come along to Coniston Hall on May 12 to show your support for our team races start at 10am

Importantly, if you are really up for it we would like you to volunteer to join the paddlers squad.  You can do that by contacting 07790 534327 to register your interest and by joining the first paddlers' team meeting at the Golden Lion on Tuesday 9th April at 7p.m.

Sacrum Cor Present A Programme Of Sacred Choral Works In Memory of Phil Smith, this will be held on the 9th of March at St Alkelda’s Church in Giggleswick

Settle Pool is delighted to have been given a £4,000 award by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The Clapham-based charity whose aims are to look after the spectacular Dales landscape, support local communities and help everyone enjoy and understand the Dales says’ the award is made in recognition of how your organisation aligns with YDMT’s charitable aims, specifically to support people to live in, visit and care for the Dales. The awards have been made possible thanks to funding we have received from People’s Postcode Lottery.’

Commenting on the award pool chair Colin Coleman said: ‘This generous award is further recognition of the role of the pool in the life of our local communities. It comes at a time when we have been facing particularly severe financial difficulties and, along with the many other measures that we have taken in recent months and the exceptional response of our supporters and users means that we have been able to reduce our on- going losses and, whilst we have further work to do, we are now in a much better position than we were just a few weeks ago.’

You can now help support the pool by not sending greeting cards to your friends and family.

Settle Area Swimming Pool is one of many national and local charities that has signed up to                            Don’tSendMeACard.com

 It works like this. When that special occasion is coming up instead of buying a card and a stamp, go to  Settle Area Swimming Pool eCards | DontSendMeACard.com and choose an appropriate design from their wide selection. They will send the electronic card for you and in return you  make a donation of the amount you would otherwise have spent – or indeed however much you wish  - to the pool.

 It is as easy as that. 

So whether it is a birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, or Christmas time, your loved one gets their greeting from you and the pool gets a donation.

And don’t forget you can also help the pool when you shop on line.

Read how at: How Can I Help? - Settle Area Swimming Pool (settleswimmingpool.co.uk)

Settle Pool is to lift the one hour time limit for some swimming sessions, on a trial basis, during March.

This is in response to requests from a number of pool users, and in particular a contribution to the recent open evening.

From March 4 for four weeks, the two one-hour early morning lane swimming sessions on Mondays and Thursdays will be merged into a single two hour ‘early lane swim’ on each of the two days. 

When making a booking you will not need to state your arrival time, or if you prefer you can turn up at the time that suits you and pay at the desk.  Whether you stay in the water for the full two-hours (which is unlikely) or just half an hour, the prices will be the same. However, the bather limit of 12 for lane swims (four per lane) will still apply and if the number is reached no one else will be allowed into the pool until someone else has left.

At weekends there will be open swimming on Saturdays from 1.15pm to 3.15pm and on Sundays from 1.30pm – 3.35pm. Again you will be able to book in advance to take part in either session, or pay on arrival. Family bookings will also be possible and, as with all open swim sessions, the pool limit is 35.

See the next 2 weeks timetable here.

Users will be asked for feedback after their swim and a decision made subsequently on whether or not to continue with this experiment.

The 200 club has been an important fund raiser for Settle Pool for many years.  Each year members pay a sum, this year it is £30 per number, with half the proceeds going to the pool and the other half going into a number of prize draws during the year, with a bumper draw just before Christmas.

This year there have been far more people wanting numbers than the 200 limit can accommodate, and so, for this year only, we have set up a new 'Super 30 Club'. The cost of £30 per number will be the same as for the 200 club and again, half the proceeds will go in prizes and the other half will go to the pool.

Because there will be fewer people involved than in the 200 club itself, there will be just two draws during the year: two prizes of £100 each to be drawn in June and two further prizes of £100 each to be drawn in early December. There will also be a bonus draw in December, the amount of which will depend on the number joining but likely to be around £50.

Numbers were initially being offered to those who wished to join the 200 club, but other pool users and supporters can join. The closing date for entries will be February 29.

If you wish to join the Super 30 Club, please complete and return the form super-30-form-2024.docx (live.com) and make the payment as indicated.

Thanks for your support for the Pool.

Mike Smith

Settle Swimming Pool  Super 30 club organiser

A new community fund raising initiatives group is to be set up to help Settle Area Swimming Pool tackle its serious financial crisis. The picture above shows Chair of Trustees Colin Coleman (left) and Secretary Ian Orton addressing a packed room of pool supporters.

The move came out of the open evening on pool finances held on January 24 that was attended by well over a hundred pool supporters. 

The new group will consist mainly of volunteers whose task is both to come up with new ideas and implement some of the suggestions made at the open evening.

They will work closely with the pool trustees and aim to build on the many initiatives already in place. Supporters wishing to join the group, who have not already been in touch with Elaine Owen, should send their contact details to the secretary or leave a note at pool reception, or either of the two pool charity shops .

Pool chair Colin Coleman told the event that Settle pool was not alone in facing severe financial problems. He cited a recent Swim England report that showed that hundreds of public pools across England had closed in the past few years and predicted that many more would follow over the next decade.

Those attending the event were told the pool was currently loosing £10,000 a month. Much of this was due to a gas bill of around £6,000. The pool was in long-term contract with the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, the public sector procurement group that provides services to many organisations including schools and colleges. Whilst this had initially been very beneficial, prices were now well above the market rate. Despite efforts to get out of the contract, including the intervention of MP Julian Smith, it had proved impossible to do so before April 2025. Prices were expected to fall substantially in the spring when usage would also go down. But this alone would not cover the monthly deficit which would continue to eat into the reserves currently standing at around £75,000.

A range of measures has already been taken to increase income and cut costs. Following a health and safety inspection changes had been made to lifeguard coverage; the timetable had been revised to cut out badly attended sessions and increase the availability of the most popular ones. Plans were in hand for a promotional leaflet, financed by the Settle Stingrays group, to go to all households in the area via Royal Mail. A new membership scheme had been introduced to benefit regular users as well as increase predictable income. In the longer term the possibility of establishing and charging for a campervan park was being examined with Yorkshire Council – such a scheme had proved a major money maker for a comparable Scottish pool.

Usage of the pool and related fitSpace sessions had grown greatly over the past year but the greatest help that local people could give the pool was to make sure they, their families and neighbours used the pool more often.

Overall there were 24 contributions from those attending the event . These were summarised by secretary Ian Orton as follows:

1. Social media: The pool should make more use of social media and two people offered to help with managing Facebook etc.

2. Questions were asked about the reclaiming of VAT and VAT-able expenditure. The Treasurer responded.

3. A suggestion that the Pool Flyer could go out with Community News rather than Royal Mail. It was explained that Royal Mail covered every home in the catchment area of the pool.

4. Details were asked of the monthly deficit and the Treasurer explained it was around £10,000 a month and the way to close it was more users and reduce expenditure.

5. More details were requested about the duration of the deficit.

6. A request to remove time-restricted swim sessions was made

7. A suggestion was made to re-introduce The Friends of the Pool.

8. A question was raised about balances held by the pool. The Treasurer explained a Charity needed to hold around three months expenditure.

9. Details were shared of a levy being raised at a similar pool to Settle for car parking charges etc to generate revenue.

10. Several people spoke about charging for camper van parking and it was noted this suggestion was being investigated with North Yorkshire Council.

11. As the cost of gas heating is so high suggestions were made about reducing the temperature of the water. A response included comments about minimum temperatures etc for babies and older swimmers.

12. A request was made about how to regularly donate money to the pool. Booking forms for standing orders are available at pool reception and on the website here https://www.settleswimmingpool.co.uk/donate/

13. A mention was made of Patrons of Bradford Jazz Club and how the pool could recruit patrons.

14. One of the original founders of the pool spoke about the importance of the pool. She suggested income from camper vans should be chased up, and partnering with Settle United Junior Football who regularly use the car park during term time.

15. It was suggested there should be more publicity about the ability to donate to the pool.

16. A member of pool staff spoke about the loss of the pool would result in many young people not learning to swim and how a sponsored swim would bring in additional funds.

17. A local energy contractor spoke about energy audits and offered to help the pool with this process using his expertise.

18. Trustees offered to coordinate a fund raising group and requested volunteer help.

19. Questions were asked about the duration of and charges for the gas contract. The Treasurer explained the background to the gas contract with YPO and the unsuccessful efforts to get out of the contract before the end date of April 2025.

20. It was suggested that a Honesty Box in the car park might help with donations. The Secretary indicated he would approach North Yorkshire Council.

21. Comments were raised about Facebook and Trustees gave details of the history of the use of FB.

22. The Trustees were thanked for all their hard unpaid work.

23. A member of the Dragon Boat Team asked for more paddlers for the race on 12th May raising funds for the pool. The Secretary to circulate details.

24. Cllr David Staveley gave an update on the way North Yorkshire Council was helping the pool but pointed out these are challenging times.

Settle Rotary Club are supporting the pool with a very generous offer of fundraising at their annual Merry-Go-Round dinner on Friday 9 February. Thank you Settle Rotary!

For more details about Settle Rotary, click here

POOL TO HOLD OPEN EVENING TO EXPLAIN FINANCIAL POSITION

Following last month’s announcement that Settle Area Swimming Pool was facing a serious financial crisis the pool trustees have taken a range of measures to help alleviate the situation. These include: intensifying efforts to obtain public funding; cutting costs; and putting in place plans to increase use of the pool and the related fitSpace area.

The trustees have been heartened by the positive response from the public - individuals and local businesses. This has included at least one substantial donation as well as offers of help and suggestions on ways to raise money and reduce costs.

Many of those responding have asked for further details on issues such as the measures being taken; the causes of the financial problems; and how they can help. In order to provide an opportunity to deal with these queries and to give pool users and supporters the chance to talk to trustees in more detail an open evening is to be held. This will take place on WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24 AT THE POOL STARTING AT 7PM.

In the meantime it should be noted that the principal cause of the month on month losses now being incurred is the tenfold increase in gas prices over the past year from 2p per unit to more than 20p.Prices are expected to fall in the coming months, but this alone will not be enough to put the pool’s finances back on an even keel.

In other developments, representations have been made to North Yorkshire Council and Sport England; two of the trustees have held a positive meeting with Julian Smith MP; and income from the charity shops has risen with the opening of the new pop up shop.

Further measures are being taken to encourage pool use and a new membership scheme has been set up to benefit regular users. Supporters are reminded that donations to the pool can be made both on a regular and one-off basis through the pool website.

Settle Swimming Pool is facing a major financial crisis after it was denied funding from the £20 million the government set aside to help public swimming pools across England cope with what it called ‘challenging financial pressures’.

Whilst 196 pools received grants of as much as £300,000 in some cases, none of the 18 pools in North Yorkshire received any contribution.

In the absence of this public funding, Settle pool is now having to take drastic measures in order to keep afloat.

Full details of all new prices will be published on our website shortly. In a move to help regular users, a long term membership scheme is being introduced. This will give reduced rates for both swimming and fitspace sessions and a combination of both.

Trustees have also agreed to take urgent action to reduce staffing costs and other expenditure.

In a further move pool users and supporters are being asked to make regular individual donations to help ensure the pool can continue to function.

Longer term measures are also under consideration.

One of the reasons that Settle pool has, to date, coped better than some others has been the income from the charity shop, that has generated around £70,000 a year since it opened in 2017. But this is no longer adequate to cope with rising costs, most significantly a gas bill that has gone up from just over £1,000 a month to around £7,000. In an effort to raise income from this source the trustees are seeking further volunteers to help staff a second ‘pop-up ‘ shop that recently opened in the centre of Settle. As shop organiser Anne Galloway, who was recently named North Yorkshire volunteer of the year said: “We are getting plenty of donations, including some high value items, but we need more volunteers to help with sales, both on line and through our shops.”
Behind all these action there is frustration with the lack of support from government and Sport England.

As pool treasurer Rosie Sanderson explained to the November meeting of the trustees, “When the pool was facing financial difficulties a few years ago it was Sport England that told us the only way to go was to undertake a major expansion, including a new dry area. We followed their advice and have coped with unforeseen challenges as Covid and storm damage leading to temporary closure, but now when we need urgently help we are denied support.”

Settle will be seeking an explanation from Sport England about why they were denied aid from the Swimming Pool Support Fund despite appearing to meet the three criteria set out in the press release announcing the grants from the scheme.

Sport England said pools and leisure centres were selected “based on their risk of closure, the proximity to other swimming pools providing public swimming, and the level of demand for the facility.”

Settle Pool chair Colin Coleman said: “There is only one other public pool within twenty miles of Settle. We offer a wide range of sessions for all ages as well as public swimming and school swimming and it is now clear that without urgent action there is a real danger that the pool will have to close. It makes no sense for us to be denied funding when pools closer to other facilities, offering fewer services and operating in less challenging environments have been given substantial amounts of public funding. We want to know why.”

Settle Pool is now connected to the world’s fastest rural broadband.

Customers can get free wi-fi access simply by scanning the QR code on the noticeboard at the pool café or by logging on to the network using the password ‘swimming’.

It's clear from the photo how happy our Centre Manager Tash Ward is with the new internet connection.

The link to Broadband for Rural Networks - B4RN - was made in mid-November when a fibre optic cable was laid under the fields between the pool and the nearby hamlet of Stackhouse - the nearest  point where B4RN was already installed.

Pool staff are now using B4RN for all back office work. This includes monitoring progress on children's swim lessons, processing customer accounts and taking payments, and managing content for our social media feeds, booking system and website.

B4RN - pronounced barn - is a community benefit society, established in 2011 to bring world-leading full fibre broadband speeds to underserved rural areas . It has won numerous awards and featured in media reports highlighting the fact that remote rural areas served by B4RN can match broadband speeds normally only found in places like the financial districts of big cities. It began in North  East Lancashire is now spreading into the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria.

You can read more about B4RN on https://b4rn.org.uk/

Settle Pool trustee Anne Galloway has been named North Yorkshire volunteer of the year.

Anne received her award from North Yorkshire council chair Coun. David Ireton, at a ceremony in Harrogate, organised by the council, to recognise the contribution that the community organisations and volunteers make to life across the county.

Alongside the award the pool will receive a £1,000 cash donation.

A video made by the council’s communications team highlights Anne’s role as the inspiration behind the pool charity shop.

https://youtu.be/wsm5zb-ZyS0

The shop has played a crucial role in the transformation of Settle pool at a time when many other public swimming pools across the country have been forced to close as a result of soaring costs and reduced public funding.

It was seven years ago on a visit to Kirkcudbright in Scotland that Anne saw how the local community swimming pool was able to finance itself by running a charity shop. She persuaded Settle pool supporters to follow this example and after a great deal of work behind the scenes the pool shop opened in May 2017.
Since then it has generated a steady flow of income for the pool. This has made possible the major redevelopment work completed just over a year ago and has gone some way towards off-setting soaring energy bills. Recently a second pop up shop has opened to sell the larger and more expensive items that have been given by generous local supporters.

Anne has been a pool trustee since 2013. In addition to her role in developing the charity shop and now the new pop up shop, she leads the trustee’s group on staff development. Over the past year she has devoted a great deal of time to helping see through the staff changes resulting from the expansion of the pool to include the new dry space area, known as fitSpace, and the creation of enhanced catering facilities.

Anne said: “Whilst I am delighted to receive this award, all the work that I have put in would have meant nothing without the efforts of our other trustees, volunteers and the pool staff. The continuing success of Settle pool is based around the commitment shown by the whole community and not least those who donate and buy from our charity shops. The award really belongs to all of them.”

Colin Coleman chair of the pool trustees said: “Anne is 100 per cent committed to the pool. I am sure she spends more time here and at the charity shop than she does at home. She richly deserves the accolade of North Yorkshire volunteer of the year.”

The full story about all awards from North Yorkshire Council is here:

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-north-yorkshire/we-put-unsung-heroes-spotlight-awards-ceremony?utm_campaign=2640476_YNY%20November%202023&utm_medium=email&utm_source=North%20Yorksshire%20Council&dm_i=4BPJ,1KLEK,4ZBY4A,7CT9R,1

Our local newspaper the Craven Herald has the story too here

The pool now has a new ‘pop-up’ shop. You’ll find it next to the Royal Oak in the narrow section of the road through the centre of Settle.

It is currently open 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays but hours might be extended as time goes by.

The new shop sells larger and more expensive items that cannot be accommodated in the existing premises in Duke Street.  Previously these donations would have been sold online, but the new premises mean that they can now be offered to our supporters who prefer to shop in person.

To date the shop has done a roaring trade, generating many more bargains for shoppers and much needed income for the pool at a time when we are continuing to face sky high energy bills..

It also means that we now have more space in the two containers that receive donations in the pool car park on Tuesday and Friday mornings (9.30am- 12.30pm).

The success of the shop is of course entirely dependent on generous donations by our supporters and the dedicated team of volunteers who sort items and staff both our shops.

We are having an Halloween Kids Disco at the Pool Friday 27th of October!!

Tash Ward has been appointed as Centre Manager at Settle Area Swimming Pool.

This new role brings together responsibility for the whole building including both the pool itself and the new fitSpace area which was created following last year’s major re-development.

Tash has been acting as interim manager since May. She joined the pool team in August last year, initially in the role of business development manager.

The creation of the new post is part of wider changes to the staffing structure to reflect the major  developments at the pool and the new opportunities for use of the facilities.

Formerly club manager of Anytime Fitness in Ilkley, Tash ( 30) has a sports management degree from Leeds Beckett University. She is also a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer.

Growing up in Thailand and going to an International School, Tash was involved in a variety of sports from an early age.  She was particularly attracted to karate, becoming a black belt and world champion at the age of 14.

In September 2020 Tash and her partner moved to Settle. They have a baby boy now aged 18 months.

Tash said: “Over the past year I have come to appreciate just how much the people of this area love their pool. It is support given by the staff, the customers, the trustees and the multitude of volunteers who work tirelessly to raise funds that keeps the pool going.

“We now have great facilities. The challenge is to make the best use of them for the benefit of the whole community. We are making a great start this summer with our intensive swimming classes. And I am delighted to see the building is being used by people of all ages and abilities. But there is more that needs to be done to reach out to the whole community and to make sure that people know there is something for everyone here at Settle pool.”

To contact Tash, email tash.ward@settleswimmingpool.co.uk

This inspiring story is reported in the Craven Herald here 

The Settle Stingrays swimming club were the star attraction at the pool AGM held on July 20.

Whilst club members took part in one of their regular training sessions in the pool, Stingrays chair Karen Shuttleworth told those attending the AGM in the adjacent fitSpace area of the  importance of the training facilities in preparing the Stingrays for club competitions.

She said the club was delighted to be back at the pool after a long absence caused by last year’s redevelopment work. The return renewed the historic link between the pool and the club.  The Stingrays aim was to give young swimmers the opportunity to develop their skills to the point where they could take part in swimming competitions against other clubs across the country.

Tashina Ward, the interim pool manager,  was the other main speaker at the AGM. She spoke of the new facilities available in the fitSpace area. These  range from spin classes, using static cycles, to children’s play sessions with a range of soft play equipment.

In the formal part of the meeting Colin Coleman was re-elected as chair of trustees.  Ian Orton is to continue as secretary and Rosie Sanderson as treasurer.

Colin said that this was the first time that it had been possible to hold the AGM at the pool, thanks to the major development that had been completed last year. Rosie spoke of the financial pressures on the pool resulting from increasing energy costs and rising insurance premiums. This had necessitated the price increases that had to be introduced from May. On the positive side the new solar panels were helping keep costs down and, most crucially the income from the charity shop made a major contribution to keeping the pool afloat. Thanks were due to all the volunteers who put in so much time to supporting the pool.

We are excited to announce that we will be running a 4-week Summer Intensive Swim Course!

The group courses will be running each week from Monday 31^st July to Wednesday 23^rd August. The courses will be over 3 days, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the same week. Each class will be 25 minutes long.  The first course on each day starting from 09:00 and the last course starting at 11:00. 

Places will be given on a first come first serve basis.

The cost will be £21 for the 3-day course each week.

Classes are suitable for children aged 4-16 years and all abilities. Once you have booked a place, a swimming teacher will give you a call to assess your child to place them into a suitable stage.

There is also intensive private 1-1 and 2-1 courses of 3 lesson over a 3 week period on a Wednesday and a Thursday on the weeks of the 2^nd August, 16^th August and the 23^rd August,

On Wednesdays from the first class at 1:30 and the last class at 14:30 and on Thursdays with the first class starting at 15:00 and the last class at 20:00. Each of these classes will be 25 minutes long and once a week for these 3 weeks.

The cost for 1-1 courses will be £66 for three lessons over the three weeks. For 2-1 courses will be £82.50 for three lessons over the three weeks.

These classes will be suitable for all ages. All classes will be planned and delivered by our Swim England qualified and experienced teachers. Classes are aimed to be fun and to provide the necessary water confidence, water skills and improve their stroke technique.

Courses are non-refundable and non-transferable, and payment is by direct debit before the course starts. Links for payment will be in your booking confirmation.

Certificates will be provided on completion of the course.

 If you are interested in signing up. Please e-mail Hannah at: swimlessons@settleswimmingpool.co.uk. The closing date for applications to the course is the 30^th of July 2023.

 We look forward to seeing you.

Friends and supporters of Settle Area Swimming Pool are invited to an open evening and AGM to be held at the pool on Thursday 20 July from 7pm - 9pm.

This will be our first annual meeting since the re-opening of the building last autumn following the major redevelopment work. To celebrate the occasion the Settle Stingrays Swimming Club will demonstrate their skills and there will be a display of the new features offered in our fitSpace Area. Refreshments will be provided.

If you wish to attend please rsvp to invitation@settleswimmingpool.co.uk.

For copies of the AGM documents please contact Ian Orton at secretary@settleswimmingpool.co.uk

See the full story in the Craven Herald here

THE fifth annual Dragon Boat Race organised by Skipton Rotary took place at The Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa, Coniston Cold recently - and it was bigger and better than ever.

Some 20 teams from the local community took part, each raising funds for their own particular charities as diverse as mental health, cancer research, hospices, animal charities and the Settle area swimming pool.

The photo above shows our very own Settle Serpents representing Settle Area Swimming Pool, and buoyed with excitement.

Read the full Craven Herald article here https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/23573337.rotarys-dragon-boat-regatta-declared-great-success/

The Settle Pool Dragon Boat Team narrowly missed out on reaching the final stages of the Skipton Rotary event held at Coniston Hall Lake on Sunday May 14.

Our time of one minute and four seconds was just one second outside the time needed to make the cut but nevertheless the crew, who had just a couple of dry practice sessions in the pool’s FitSpace hall, had a great day out in an excellent setting alongside some dedicated people raising money for worthy charities. And it was good to take part in a different team sport at a well organised event.

Our justgiving page is still open for any supporters wanting to make a late contribution.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sasp-dragonboat-2023

We are super pleased that our competition training club Settle Stingrays are back! A spokesperson from Stingrays said: 

After nearly 3 years away, with Covid and a huge storm making the pool unsafe. A big re-vamp later and we LOVE it! Thanks Settle Pool for having us. We hope to be training for lots of galas and events with your support.

Photographed here is the Settle Stingrays 'A' Squad. More about the Stingrays club here

The pool trustees have reluctantly decided to increase swim prices from May 1.

The new cost of an adult swim will be £6.20 and the concession rate for full-time students and over 60s will be £5. 

Full details of all the new session prices   can be found here: https://www.settleswimmingpool.co.uk/swimming/prices/

This is the first rise since 2020 and has been made necessary by three big increases in our costs:

1) gas bills have gone up four-fold in recent months from approximately £1,000 a month to £4,000 ( this is even with a big government subsidy due to end this month).

2) there has been a big rise in our insurance premiums

3) many other costs have risen as a result of rocketing inflation.

Public swimming pools across the country are under increasing financial pressure. Here, the trustees are taking a number of other measures to keep costs under control. This article from the Craven Herald gives more details: https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/23480132.community-run-settle-pool-acts-tackle-rise-fuel-costs/

Thanks for your continuing support for the pool.

For the second year running Settle Pool has entered a team in the Skipton Rotary Club dragon boat regatta to be held at the Coniston Hotel lake on Sunday 14 May.

Last year the paddlers made a big contribution to the fund raising for the solar panels that now adorn the pool roof and help to reduce the sizeable heating bill.

This year the aim is to raise funds for a further bank of panels that will help make the pool more energy efficient and greener still. Importantly they will help secure the future of the pool when many other pools across the country have closed in the last year due to the rise in energy and maintenance costs.

The enthusiastic crew members are now in training for the big paddle. Please sponsor them through Justgiving at

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sasp-dragonboat-2023

The redevelopment of Settle Area Swimming Pool was recognised in the Craven Legacy Awards presented at the final meeting of the district council before the authority was absorbed into the new North Yorkshire Council.

Pat Taylor, chair of the pool trustees for six years, was one of the people to receive the awards from council chair Simon Myers.  In a letter published by the Craven Herald Pat said:

“I was delighted that our work in transforming Settle Pool was recognised in the CravenLegacy Awards made at the final council meeting on March 30.

“I did initially have some reservations about accepting the award as it was made to me individually, as chair of the pool trustees from 2016 until the end of last year, rather than the pool as an organisation. 

“The redevelopment was never the work of one individual, but a collective effort involving the trustees, staff and the many volunteers who work tirelessly all year round on behalf of the pool. I was however persuaded that if I did not accept the award then there would be no recognition for the pool at this time and that would let down all those who contributed to the redevelopment over many years. So in accepting this award I want to make it very clear that this award is for the whole collective effort that achieved our transformed pool and the creation of the new fitSpace facility.

“I have now stepped down as chair of the trustees, but do want to take this opportunity to wish all the best to everyone involved in the pool.”

The full online story is on the Craven Herald website here 

They rode around the clock. Marathon cyclists Jo Ward, Anita Eccleston and Kate Dinsdale completed an astonishing 12 hour fund-raising ride on spinbikes at 5pm on Saturday March 18 having started their efforts in the early hours of the morning.

During the event that took place in fitSpace at Settle Pool they raised more than £2,400 in sponsorship to be shared between the pool, which is run as a charity, and the nearby Freda’s nursery.

The three each pedalled the equivalent of more than 300 miles, which as Jo pointed out soon after stepping off the saddle, meant that they had in effect done the Coast to Coast ride one and a half times.
The event was sponsored by Kings Mill Garage and a number of local businesses. A justgiving page, still open, contributed more than half the amount raised.

During their 12 hours in the saddle the three were joined for hour long sessions by family, friends and supporters.

Tash Ward, the pool business development manager, who helped organise the event, said: “The three ladies did really well to keep going the full 12 hours and were in a remarkably good state at the end. We were delighted by the amount of support they got both at the event and across the community. The North Rib rugby club even organised a bucket collection for us at their matches that afternoon.

A Justgiving page for donation is still open at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sasp-spinathon-2023.

The Craven Herald have also featured stories about the event - this first one in the build-up:  https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/23353660.support-settle-pool-nurserys-spinathon-challenge/

and a second story celebrating success a week later https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/23398875.marathon-cyclists-ride-around-clock-settle-pool/

Dales Radio interviewed Business Development Manager Tash Ward and added a news story to their website https://www.dalesradio.co/news/yorkshire-dales-news/settle-pool-in-a-spin/

As an approved Royal Life Saving Society training centre we have in-house trainers and assessors who, on top of keeping our staff up-to-date with their qualifications, run courses to enable people to gain the qualification to become a lifeguard.

The details of our latest course, which includes the use of a automated external defibrillator, are as follows:

Next course dates: To be confirmed

Course price: £280

Please call the pool for further details/to book a place.

Limited places available and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

All applicants must be aged 16 years and over.

For further information about the course see RLSS website.

The excitement is mounting! A giant new inflatable is coming so the massively popular weekend sessions can restart in 2023. 

After a decisive public vote on Facebook, the new equipment was ordered last week and will arrive in the New Year. The inflatable sessions were hugely well attended before lockdown, and are expected to be a big draw once relaunched. Keep an eye out for more announcements so you don't miss your place on Settle's answer to Love Island.

The purchase was subsidised by a grant from North Yorkshire County Council.

Settle pool was officially re-opened on Saturday October 29^th by Julian Smith MP and chair of the pool trustees Pat Taylor. This follows the completion of a year-long redevelopment programme.

School swimming classes will start this week and it is hoped to start taking bookings for public sessions within the next few days.

 Locally born, champion swimmer Ned Sharp completed the three- strong opening team by means of a video message– Ned, who was unable to attend in person, had already tried out the new facilities in a visit to the pool earlier in the month.

The unveiling of the commemorative plaque to mark the re-opening was followed by the cutting of a specially commissioned cake that featured the pool logo. The cake cutting was undertaken by special guest – singer songwriter James Newman, who like Ned Sharp learned to swim at Settle Pool.  James happened to be in Settle for a family visit.

Also present at the opening were pool trustees and staff, together with representatives of Craven District Council, the local town and parish councils who have supported the pool, and representatives of other funding bodies.

Among the guests were some of the local people who helped to raise funds for the original building programme back in the 1970s.

In thanking all those who had helped carry the new project through, pool chair Pat Taylor said the secret of Settle’s success at a time when swimming pools around the country were being forced to close was the tremendous commitment of the local community to the pool, shown both through financial support and especially through the number of people who volunteered to support fund raising  ventures such as the pool charity shop. 

Julian Smith also praised the local commitment to the pool and the way that helped gain funding from public bodies such as Sport England and the local authorities.

A key part of the redevelopment is the creation of the new wellbeing centre fitSpace which is now coming into use for a wide-variety of activities and events. 

YEARS of “hard graft and sacrifice” by hundreds of people in and around Settle have finally paid off with the £840,000 transformation of the town’s swimming pool.

Many of the volunteers and supporters who championed the pool over the years were back in the building last night for a sneak preview ahead of this weekend’s official reopening.

And what a transformation there is. The pool remains – but tired changing facilities have been completely transformed.

There’s a bright new reception area, plus catering facilities to service a new café. Pride of place goes to ‘fitSpace’ – a wellbeing centre offering fitness classes, children’s soft play, cycling ‘spin sessions’ and much more.

“It has been tough, a mammoth struggle really – but we have finally made it,” declared chair of the pool trustees Pat Taylor. “The achievements of everyone involved in getting to where we are right now is the culmination of an awful lot of hard graft and sacrifice.”

Apart from the obvious obstacles of a devastating pandemic and lengthy lock-downs, the other big challenge that threatened the project came with Storm Arwen which ripped away large sections of the pool’s roof less than twelve months ago.

While Arwen wrecked plans to keep the pool open during the redevelopment, it did provide an opportunity to add a bank of solar panels, cutting the pool’s energy bills.

But the solar roof meant unwelcome extra costs – triggering an urgent new fundraising effort. Generous donations from Hellifield Harness Racing were vital as was cash raised by participants in Rotary’s Dragonboat regatta at Coniston Cold. But the bulk of the fresh ‘roof’ money came from crowdfunding hastily – and expertly – organised by pool treasurer Rosie Sanderson.

Despite all these difficulties the team of trustees plus supporters, pool users and volunteers drew on their collective networks, knowledge and career experiences to keep the project on track. It will culminate in the formal opening ceremony by Julian Smith MP this weekend – with a special virtual guest appearance from star swimmer Ned Sharp, who learned to swim in Settle pool.

Ned, a multi-award winning butterfly champion, has his sights firmly fixed on the 2024 Paris Olympics. That dream started as a seven-year-old at his local junior school. “I learned to swim at Settle pool – everything started right here; it means so much to me and my family.”

Ned has backed the rebuild throughout, devoting time and encouragement despite his rigorous training and competition schedules. “It’s so important for young people in particular. I know how vital the pool is for the schools, and I just hope some of those kids who are going to be using it again in the coming weeks and months go on to make their own dreams come true.”

The redevelopment had substantial support from Sport England and Craven District Council, linked directly to the commitment to the pool shown by the local community. Volunteers dug deep with time and cash while the Rotary Club delivered consistent – and generous – support.

The pool has been helped by many fundraising ventures throughout its 50 year history, but none as significant as the opening of the charity shop in Duke Street, Settle, five years ago.

Over 40 volunteers give their time freely to ensure the shop’s ongoing success. As well as staffing the premises and receiving donations, they deliver crucial help by assessing donations in specialist areas such as jewellery, toys and haberdashery.

Thanks to Stephen Garnett for the great photo of Ned Sharp.