All Penrith Swimming Club wants for Christmas is certainty over the future of its swimming lessons — but three months after being told its Learn to Swim programme would have to end, the club says it is still waiting.
The 145-year-old volunteer-run club is calling on GLL and Westmorland and Furness Council to reach an agreement that will allow its lessons to continue.
Despite apologies, meetings and an agreement to explore how the club and GLL could both provide lessons, the club says there has been little progress towards securing its long-term future.
It has also questioned the council’s position. The authority owns Penrith Leisure Centre and previously identified itself as a participant in the review, but says it does not determine the operational arrangements between the two organisations.
Freedom of Information disclosures have added to the club’s concerns, revealing that a senior council officer described GLL’s proposed approach as “balanced and proportionate” before hearing directly from the club.
Luke Brown, spokesperson for Penrith Swimming Club, said: “Three months ago, we were told our swimming lessons would have to stop. Since then, we have corrected inaccurate information, received apologies, attended meetings and worked constructively towards a solution.
“Yet three months later, we are still unable to reassure our members and volunteers that our programme has a secure future.
“As Christmas approaches, all Penrith Swimming Club wants is an end to this uncertainty. We don’t need presents or promises. We need an agreement that allows our volunteers to continue doing what they love.”
GLL first informed the club on 1 August that its Learn to Swim provision would no longer be permitted. On 19 August, the council said no decision had been made and identified both organisations continuing to offer lessons as a possible outcome.
On 7 September, GLL apologised for its handling of the situation and removed the fixed date for the club’s lessons to end, allowing discussions to continue.
However, when Councillor Mike Eyles asked for a guarantee that the programme could continue at a full council meeting on 24 September, no guarantee was given.
Councillor Vicky Hughes, Cabinet Member for Planning and Active Wellbeing, told the meeting: “The council’s role is not to determine the operational arrangement between the parties, but to support a process that sees a balanced and equitable outcome.”
Mr Brown said the response left questions about who was responsible for protecting the club’s future.
“The Council owns the facility, its officers have previously expressed support for GLL’s proposals and its portfolio holder now says the Council does not determine the operational arrangements.
“If the Council isn’t the decision maker, who is ensuring that the interests of the community are being protected?
“We are not looking to apportion blame. We want clarity.”
Throughout the dispute, the club’s volunteers have continued teaching and supporting swimming activities at the leisure centre.
The club offers a route from learning to swim through to competitive swimming, Masters and water polo, as well as recognised teaching and coaching qualifications.
It spends approximately £40,000 a year hiring swimming facilities. The club and local community also helped raise around £40,000 towards building the Frenchfield Teaching Pool in the early 1990s.
Mr Brown said: “Our volunteers have continued turning up, teaching children and supporting activities at the leisure centre throughout this dispute.
“We have continued working constructively with GLL because we believe cooperation benefits everyone.
“We have demonstrated our commitment to partnership. Now we need that same commitment to securing our future.”
The club says it has consistently supported an arrangement that would allow both GLL and its own volunteers to provide lessons, giving local families a choice. It now wants those discussions turned into an agreement.
“We are not asking GLL to stop delivering swimming lessons. We are simply asking for the opportunity to continue delivering ours,” Mr Brown said.
“With Christmas approaching, our volunteers should be looking forward to another year of developing swimmers, supporting young people and giving back to the community.
“Instead, they are still wondering whether the programme they have spent years building will be allowed to continue.
“After 145 years, surely it isn’t too much to ask for a little certainty this Christmas.
“GLL and Westmorland and Furness Council have an opportunity to give our members, families and volunteers the reassurance they deserve.
“All we want for Christmas is the chance to keep doing what we’ve always done: teaching Penrith to swim.”
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