Swimming pool support fund boosts Rugby venue

Rugby Borough Council has been successful in obtaining £187,421 from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund for environmental improvements at the 'Better' Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre in Rugby.

The funding will provide solar panels, LED lighting and plant insulation to enable the facilities to function more efficiently and provide an improved service to customers.

Administered by Sport England, the fund provides a total of £80million to local authorities in England as a support package for public leisure facilities with swimming pools – which have been under threat from rising costs and ageing buildings.

Nicola Wood, Better’s Partnership Manager in the region, comments, “This money will help us invest in energy-saving measures that will save both CO2 and money.

“Making facilities more sustainable guarantees their longevity and helps us meet the needs of many more customers.”

The Swimming Pool Support Fund has been welcomed by the leisure industry and local authorities wishing to see swimming facilities retained as an important service for local communities.

As a form of exercise, swimming is both a vital life skill and a great way for individuals across all age groups to maintain an active lifestyle, offering benefits to both physical and mental well-being.

Rugby councillor Adam Daly says, "This is brilliant news for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre - ensuring its financial and environmental sustainability for many years to come. I am delighted that Rugby Borough Council - in conjunction with GLL - were able to secure this government grant for such an important project. I look forward to seeing the work progress at the centre soon."

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre is run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. Supporting local communities and respecting the planet are cornerstones of the organisation’s ethos and values.

Find out more about all the sites at www.better.org.uk