Mid Argyll Swimming Pool is still operating – so keep using it. The Board met last night (26th February) in emergency session to discuss its current financial crisis. There were seventeen people present.  Fifteen were supporters representing a range of supportive community groups and organisations. The others were the only two remaining members of the Board: Chair Colin McLean and Denise McDiarmid, each of whom has a strong background in finance..

Even this fact makes several important things clear. There is strong and widespread community support for the facility. The remaining members of the Board are key placements with very necessary skill sets. The Board now needs new members. Start thinking about this and we’ll return to it shortly.

Since our last report, as well as last night’s meeting the following developments have taken place:

• The bank extended its overdraft to enable staff wages for February to be met.
• The Pool has had a good earning week with a new series of swimming lessons just started
• Management accounts and a crisis-response business plan are already in preparation
• The Chair of the Board met with senior Council officials this afternoon (27th February) to discuss what they would want to see in place to enable them to consider emergency assistance

After this whirlwind series of events and admitting to not having slept for ten days, Colin McLean says cautiously that:’The position is still fragile but there is reason to be hopeful that a solution can be found’. It should be noted that Mr McLean considered the word ‘optimistic’ here and rejected it in favour of ‘hopeful’ – a more sober assessment of the realities.

If short term assistance can be provided by the council, it is clear that additional sources of funding for the future will need to be found from other sources.

The situation is recoverable if the will can be summoned communally to make it happen. The Board needs £10,000 for the Pool’s immediate stability. While this is not an insignificant amount of money, it is not impossibly daunting.

This is an important community resource. Children learn to swim in it. People of all ages use it to exercise, socialise and stay healthy. To stay open, the Pool now urgently needs resources from the community it serves:

• new members of the board – and people with a business or management background would obviously be hugely valuable. This might come from recently retired business people willing to step in and bring thier expertise to bear for the good of the wider community. It migh come from working business people who are good time managers and are prepared to bring their skills to bear on the situation. If you could help with this, please ring 01546 606676
• donations and sponsorships – from individuals and businesses. These will not only help at a very practical level. They will demonstrate to potential funders that the Pool is regarded by its community as a genuinely valuable service. However small or large such donations may be, they will be warmly welcomed. If you could help with this, please ring 01546 606676