Spectrum Secures Funding from Swimming Pools Support Fund

Published on: 6 Apr, 2024
Updated on: 7 Apr, 2024

Guildford Spectrum in Stoke Park.

Spectrum Leisure Centre has been awarded £86,000 from the government’s Swimming Pools Support Fund (SPSF) and Sport England. The money will be used for a range of improvements to help the Spectrum become more energy efficient.

Guildford Borough Council’s Executive head of commercial services, Kelvin Mills, said: “This is great news for Spectrum, an important leisure resource for our residents. The funding will help the centre become more environmentally and financially sustainable.

“The funding will allow us to install three new pool blankets. They will reduce heat loss overnight from the pools, meaning we don’t have to use the boilers to keep the pool temperature at the right level. We’ll also introduce aerators for the showers. They will reduce water use by pumping air into the system.”

Over 500 capital interventions have been awarded funding from the Government and Sport England’s £60 million capital investment programme. The funding has been granted to over 300 facilities with swimming pools in 264 local authorities. £20 million has been provided by Sport England via the National Lottery and just over £40 million has been provided by the Government as part of their commitment to support the long-term sustainability of public leisure.

Sport England executive director – Place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne added: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active. Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as local authorities and operators have battled the challenge of increased energy and wider costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff.

“Sport England is proud of the role we’ve played in supporting these facilities through this difficult period. We hope today’s funding announcement will enable more public pools to improve their energy efficiency to be more environmentally and financially sustainable, so they remain available for future generations to enjoy.”

For more information on what’s on at Guildford Spectrum and how to book, visit their website.