Friends of Fanshawe

Who are we?

Friends of Fanshawe is a team of committed volunteers led by the Ware Swimming Club, who are working to get the doors of Fanshawe pool and gym reopened for the people of Ware.

Why do we need to crowdfund?

Due to funding cuts the pool was closed in December 2024. The pool site is owned by Chauncy School and they cannot afford to run a pool when school budgets are under such pressure. We are crowdfunding to reopen the pool and bring it into community management for the benefit of local people.

The closure of the pool has been a huge loss to the community. As well as offering gym facilities and public swimming opportunities, it was also used by local schools for swimming lessons. In addition, it had its own Swim School, teaching thousands of children and adults to swim. It was also home to Ware Swimming Club, an organisation that celebrated its 90th anniversary last year.

The closure of Fanshawe has resulted in a reduction in the number of health and leisure facilities available in Ware at a time when the population of the town is increasing. The potential Ware2 development will mean thousands more residents in the town, and it isn't feasible that the entire population travels to facilities in Hertford or Bishop's Stortford to swim.

The pool is essential for healthy lifestyle choices and the physical and mental benefits of swimming are widely documented. The facility also helps reduce social isolation and is a valuable resource in the battle against childhood obesity. With a river running through the town, it is particularly important that our young people learn to be safe in and around waterways.

A new leisure centre, according to Sports England estimates, can cost upwards of £15 million. That would be an insurmountable amount to raise in the future, so saving the pool we already have is the best option for our community and the most cost-effective way to ensure adults and children have access to indoor swimming facilities. Chauncy have explained that they cannot run the pool so if we cannot bring it into community management, the land may be sold.

Interested parties have been given until April to come up with a viable business plan to reopen the pool to the public. We have crunched the numbers and know that, with the support of the local community, this can be a fabulous and viable asset for the people of Ware and surrounding area.

What will the money be spent on?

After years of under investment the pools needs a substantial investment in order to repair and replace parts of the existing infrastructure. The potential for the pool once it is run by the community is significant. However, we need your help! Before the pool can be reopened, it needs fixing up. The building needs new boilers, air filtration systems and other enhancements to the plant and equipment. Not only will this work make the building fit for purpose, it will future-proof the building both structurally and environmentally to ensure that future generations can enjoy the facility. The pool cannot be reopened without this maintenance work which comes with a large price tag.

Who else is supporting Fanshawe Pool?

Ware Town Council has pledged a £120,000 a year for two years to help keep the pool running. This figure is to cover the loss of funding from central government, but it is not enough to cover the full costs. A number of local businesses have agreed to support us already and volunteers are working very hard to apply for grants.

Community impact

As well as public swims and lessons, there is the opportunity to host events for other local clubs and groups such as lifesaving teaching, scouting groups, keep fit, aqua aerobics, birthday parties, water polo and much more.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! Every pound counts, this is an all or nothing campaign so if we do not hit the target the pledges are refunded and we don't get any of the money.
Spread the word. This costs nothing so please share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! Please use #savefanshawe. The more people we reach, the more support we will get. Send it to your child's class group chat, tell your neighbours and friends and get your colleagues to share it too.
Get involved. If you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar - let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
Volunteer. We are looking for volunteer trustees to oversee the running of the facility in the medium term. Your primary duty would be to ensure the CIC (Community Interest Company) is run in accordance with its purpose, governing documents, and legal obligations.

Get in touch

E-mail: info@friends-of-fanshawe.org.uk

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