Dates for Your Diary: AGM & Pool Training

The AGM for Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool takes place on Monday 28th April, 8pm in the Taylor Room at the Westwoods Centre.

We are still looking for a replacement chemical team leader and treasurer. The pool cannot operate without them. If you think you could help, come to the meeting, or fill in the form that was sent out in book bags.

As every year, we also need volunteers to supervise swimming sessions after school and during the holidays. Training is provided, which covers pool operating procedures, life saving skills and water rescue in 1m deep water. Just be prepared to get your face wet!

We have organised the water rescue course for Tuesday 3rd June. The course starts at 9:15 and will finish at around 4:30. Please fill in your details on the form and return to Mrs Spice.

A Very Important Letter About Our Retirement!

Every summer the children enjoy swimming in the school swimming pool. The pool is not run by the school, but by a small band of parent volunteers. If you would like your children to continue to benefit from the pool then YOUR CHILDREN NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED.

Two of the pool management team (of three) are leaving. Pauline runs the chemical side of things, and deals with the policies and procedures that are required. Pauline’s youngest child is leaving the school this year and it is time for her to retire. Claire, who manages the accounts, is also stepping down at the end of this summer after a five-year stint.

Without a chemical team leader and treasurer, the pool cannot operate.

We would like to recruit replacements for our roles this year – so that we have a chance to show them how the pool is run. We will start preparing the pool at Easter – it has to be emptied, cleaned, painted and refilled – and can show exactly what needs doing. We need volunteers to help with pool preparation as well as with chemicals. We will organise training to show people how to test the water and keep it sparkly.

When we joined the pool committee five years ago, the previous committee had gone, and we were quite literally dropped in at the deep end (pun intended). We have no intention of putting our replacements through the same difficulties. We’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure the pool is an efficient and safe operation, backed up by the necessary policies, and we are proud to leave that as our legacy.

We need to find our replacements NOW so that we can pass on our knowledge and the school can plan for the coming academic year. If we don’t have our replacements in place by September, there will be no school swimming in 2015.

If you think you could help, please talk to us to find out about what’s involved or come to our AGM. As every year, we also need volunteers to supervise swimming sessions after school and during the holidays. Whether you can do a little or a lot, it all counts. Many hands make light work, as they say! When the sun shines and the children have a fabulous time swimming, it is extremely rewarding.

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool takes place at 8pm on Monday 28th April in the Westwoods Centre. Please support us!

We would like to thank all of those who have volunteered and supported the pool in recent years. There are too many to mention, but it includes lifeguards, helpers and chemical testers. We are particularly grateful to the fundraising team of Rosie Moser, Caroline Holmes and Alex Poole, who have done an amazing job. It costs around £5,000 each year to run the pool, and they have made this possible. They plan to continue with their fundraising activities, and we can’t thank them enough!

Pauline Rigby & Claire Burditt
pauline.anne.rigby@gmail.com 861821
claire@burdittfamily.co.uk 861088

70s and 80s disco - 1st February 2014

In a repeat of last year's wildly successful event, the disco is back!
Saturday 1st February 2014, 8pm to midnight.
The Westwoods Centre, Northleach.
Tickets £10 including a bacon sarnie.

Childrens' Cinema on 21 December

A beautiful Christmas film to get us in the mood and help us raise funds for the pool next summer! Suggested donation of £2 per child. Lovely popcorn and other refreshments available.

Enter Our Dog Show at Charter Fair

Come to our dog show at Northleach Charter Fair on Saturday 29th June.

Entry is from 12 on the field. Enter as many classes as you want on the day. The entry fee is £1.30 per class per dog.

The classes are….dog the judge would most like to take home, waggiest tail, handsomest dog, prettiest bitch, best condition, best non pedigree, best rescue, best junior (6-14yrs) handler, best adult handler, best movement non matching brace, best novelty in show, best companion, best veteran, fancy dress, gundog, non sporting, yearling, puppy and AV open.

The show starts at 1pm. You will find the display area over towards the tennis courts.

There are rosettes and prizes for winning dogs as well as for all children who take dogs into the ring.

You can't get much for £10 these days...

A pint of beer and a packet of cigarettes

Four cappuccinos in the wine bar

A decent bottle of wine in the supermarket

One family swim at Cotwold Leisure pool in Bourton





We ask for a vountary contribution of just £10 per child to swim for the half term. Each class swims at least twice per week - the reception class aim to swim every day - so this represents excellent value for money!

Sadly, last year only 37% of parents/carers chose to make their contribution, donating a total of £690. With gift aid it increased to £883, leaving a shortfall of £3,617. Our oil bill alone was £2,400. We make up the shortfall through our fundraising activities, but it's an awful lot of work.

Every child can swim whether or not their parents pay. We recognise that some families face genuine hardship, and we understand if that is the case. However, if you can afford £10, then we really need your support.

Donations can be made by cash or cheque. Please download, complete and return the form to Mrs Spice with cash or cheques made payable to Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool.

Please note: We are not currently able to accept online donations. Charity Giving has shut down.

Updated on 14 July 2013

Pool opens this weekend

Great news! The pool will be open this weekend, on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June, 2-4pm.

Unfortunately, we currently don't have enough volunteers to open the pool after school, so we plan to open at weekends only for the time being. If you think you can help us out with pool supervision, please get in touch. Water rescue and first aid training is provided.

Here's a reminder of our admissions policy:

The pool is open to children of playgroup and primary school age (under 12) and their families.

Price
£1:50 per child per session.

Age 8 and over
Can swim unaccompanied, but must provide an emergency contact tel. number. Please let us know about any health conditions, such as asthma.

Under 8s
Must be accompanied by a responsible adult (age 18+)
Although you are not required to be in the water with your child(ren), you should keep a close eye on them and make sure they know and follow the pool rules - in particular no running along the pool side and no diving or jumping into the water (always use the steps to enter and exit the pool).

Supervision ratios for under 8s
Age 4 to 7: One adult to three children.
Age 3 and under: One adult to two children with armbands. One to one without.
Mixed ages: One adult can supervise one child age 3 or younger with armbands plus one or two children age 4 to 7.

Babies/toddlers
Supervision must be in the pool.
Swim nappies must be worn (the gel in standard nappies is not suitable for pools).
We don't recommend swimming with babies less than six months old, the water is heated, but it still isn't really warm enough for such tiny bodies!

Healthy swimming
Chlorine kills most germs within minutes, but you can help us stop germs getting in the pool in the first place by following three simple guidelines:

1. Don't swim when you feel unwell.
2. Use the toilet and wash hands before getting in the pool.
3. Make sure your child has frequent bathroom breaks.