This all grew out of a campaign to save Harlech Pool in 2008 and it is the culmination of years of hard work by members of the Community. The addition of a new reception area, Climbing Wall and Cafe with external sun terrace all form part of the not-for-profit community led project.
Gwynedd County Council announced that the swimming pool would close as it had reached the end of its life and claimed that closing it would save them £160,000 a year. However without the pool the children from seven local schools would be left with no swimming lessons provision. A campaign group was set up to fight the closure of the pool;
Local people submitted a business plan to run the pool as a COMMUNITY TRUST— The Friends of Harlech Swimming Pool wanted to invest in a Climbing Wall and Café to attract more paying customers;
£800,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund was secured (£500,000 Capital Funding and £300,00 revenue grant), further £300,00 secured through the Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP);
the keys for Harlech Swimming Pool was handed over to the Trust; Building work commenced in early 2011—building a new reception area, State of the Art Climbing Wall and Café along with essential maintenance work to the swimming pool basin and a face-lift to the changing rooms;
Delays in building work meant that the opening of the Climbing Wall and Café were postponed but they eventually opened in November 2011. The center was officially opened on the 9 January 2012.
Since then the Harlech & Ardudwy Leisure has continued to provide a valued service to the wider community of Ardudwy and visitors to the area. We have increased the provision of swimming lessons to children both through school lessons and private lessons, and have a thriving swimming club. But in addition to the swimming lessons the Center has since being taken over as a community run center expanded it’s activities in the pool to include aqua-fit sessions, swim-fit and kayaking sessions.
Sadly the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the centre had to close for the best part of two years but during that time the Board of Voulunteer and staff, especially our maintenance staff workd hard to repair and improve the interior and exterior of the facility.
Since reopening in December 2010, the Centre has only been able to continue through the hard work & dedication of its large team of volunteers & supporters. From the Volunteer Board members to reception staff, cafe staff & the people who worked tirelessly cleaning, painting & laying floors in the centre, nearly all are volunteers!!
Volunteering can make you stand out from the crowd, some of the benefits of volunteering include learning new skills, gaining a sense of achievement, helping others, meet new people & make new friends & gain a current job reference for prospective employers. If volunteering is something you would be interested in & really feel you could bring something to the centre then please drop by.
You will be required to complete a volunteer form to initially express you interest in helping out.
The community pulling together as a team will keep the Centre alive & bring a sense of community back to the area. So if you can help, please do.
Please contact the centre on 01766 780576
We would always welcome new people who may be interested in becoming a director on the HAL board.
Do you want to help your community be part of an exciting social enterprise? If so we’d very much like to hear from you.
The Board of Directors oversee the running of the the Center with the aim of keeping the facility open for the community of Ardudwy and visitors to the area.
Back in 2008 Gwynedd Council announced the planned closure of the swimming pool. A large protest campaign then began to save the centre. Following this the Centre reopened under community ownership in December 2010. Since that time, the building has gone from strength to strength, refurbishing and improving the facilities on offer to include a Cafe and indoor Climbing Wall through successful grant funding and fundraising. The building also offers employment for around 14 members of staff and a huge variety of volunteer opportunities and is a vital asset for the local community.
If you have a Financial / Legal / Business / Leisure / Outdoor Activities background and would like to help support this fantastic Social Enterprise we would love to hear from you.
Please contact the centre on 01766 780576
Pick up a registration pack at the centre’s reception and complete and return to reception.
A great way to support your centre and everything we are trying to do to keep the centre open for the public. The Lottery is drawn four times a year.
Thank you and best of luck
