Swimming Pool Support Fund: Phase I - Revenue
The fund will support facilities with public leisure facilities with swimming pools with increased cost pressures leaving them vulnerable to closure or significant service reduction. Local Authorities will apply in a single application for swimming pools providing public swimming in their area which require support. The eligible costs will include utility costs attributable to swimming pools and pool chemical costs. Phase II will be made available for capital investment to improve energy efficiency of public sector swimming pools later in 2023.
- Opening date: (Midnight)
- Closing date:
Contents
Summary
Revenue grants totalling £20m will be available to support facilities with swimming pools with increased cost pressures leaving them most vulnerable to closure or service reduction. The SPSF is a competitive fund which will be allocated in a single funding round. Phase I of the SPSF will fund increased costs associated with the operation of public leisure facilities with swimming pools during the period of 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, compared to the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The eligible costs that can be included in applications are as follows:
Utility costs attributable to swimming pools.
Pool chemical costs.
Eligibility
Applications must be from a local authority that:
is based in England,
has at least one swimming pool which the support will ensure remains open – with a commitment from the local authority to ensure that public swimming pool provision will be maintained
have applied for funding towards eligible costs.
Local authority applicants (unitary, metropolitan district, district, city and borough councils) are asked to co-ordinate a single submission to the fund on behalf of all publicly accessible swimming pools in their area and engage with operators, independent charitable organisations and other tiers of government (e.g. parish councils) managing public pools within their area. A single application form must be submitted by the local authority, on behalf of the eligible pools in their area, using the online portal. Your application must have the approval of the local authority’s Section 151 officer.
Objectives
The objectives of Phase I - Revenue of the SPSF are to:
minimise the closure of swimming pool provision within local authority areas
prevent gaps in public leisure provision emerging
prioritise support in those areas of greatest socio-economic need (as evidenced by deprivation), where all other factors are equal
encourage the leisure sector to transition to a position of environmental and financial sustainability through local strategic plans for leisure and active wellbeing.
Dates
Applicants can register to receive the application form from 30 June 2023 using the link here: Swimming Pool Support Fund (Revenue) - Register to receive the application form (office.com).
Completed forms can be submitted via the online portal from 4 August 2023 and the deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on 11 August 2023.
How to apply
Local authority applicants will be required to complete an application form that captures the details of:
The public sector swimming provision and its operational status across the different leisure provider(s) in the area as identified from the Active Places database.
A narrative response in the form of a ‘Local Leisure Plan’ detailing why the facility(s) applied are at acute risk of closure and/or facing significant service reduction, alongside the wider strategic plans for swimming provision in the local authority area.
A suite of financial and operational metrics covering actual performance from April 2021-June 2023 and forecast performance from July 2023-March 2024. These will focus on the entire facility rather than be specific to the operation of the pool only where there are other sub-facility areas on the same site. This should only be provided for those facility(s) that are being applied for. Data is not required for any facilities that are not included in the application.
Register to apply here: Swimming Pool Support Fund (Revenue) - Register to receive the application form (office.com)
Supporting information
You can read the Funding Guidance and Support here: Swimming Pool Support Fund | Sport England
Register to receive an application form here: Swimming Pool Support Fund (Revenue) - Register to receive the application form (office.com)Please note the closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 11 August.