Waterside Community Trust

 Isle of Wight

 £42,824 Bridging the Gap Recipient - January 2015

  Waterside Pool is located along Ryde's sea front, within a conservation area and area of social deprivation. Waterside Community Trust (WCT) is a small  SME employing 13 FTE staff set up four  years ago as a 'not for profit' company limited by guarantee with the purpose of operating the former public  sector swimming pool following asset transfer from Isle of Wight Council.

  The company requested funding to support the cost of materials and specialist labour required to re-grout the pool tank.

  Keith Gentleman, Director/Trustee of the Waterside Community Trust, said:

This 25m x 10m ex local authority commercial swimming pool operated by a trust comprising local people required its underwater tiling to be re-grouted to avoid a safety risk to users. The problem was the pool tank could not be emptied…. Solent LEP match funded the scheme and a professional dive company ground out and replaced the old grout. The deal was sealed under water!