Lochalsh ‘superstars’ fundraise to help save their local swimming pool
KYLEAKIN primary school and nursery “superstars” have been busy fundraising to help save their local swimming pool.
The Wester Ross youngsters fundraised a total of £271 for Lochalsh Leisure Centre, by holding three non-uniform days.
The children are just some of the many Lochalsh residents tirelessly fundraising to try and save the “life-saving” facility in the Wester Ross community, where much of the locals’ lives “revolve around the sea”. Lochalsh leisure centre is currently facing a fundraising target of £40,000, or closure.
The community-owned Lochalsh Leisure Centre first opened in 1992 to teach hundreds of local families how to swim, following a number of drownings in the area.
However, since January of this year, the swimming pool has been shut due to an electrical fire, launching the community into a fundraising campaign to try and re-open the much-loved facility.
One of the other fundraising efforts for Lochalsh Swimming Pool was a swim from Kyleakin to Kyle on September 7, which saw over 20 swimmers take park, and raised nearly £18,000. As well as this fundraising sum, the pool has also been promised £25,000 in grant funding from the Highland Council.
However, a further £40,000 is still needed to secure the facility.
As well as the fundraising drive, Lochalsh Leisure Centre is also looking to recruit a centre manager, to “help us lead the way to the future of our facility”.
At the time of writing, the swimming pool has secured £13,288 — 33% of its fundraising target.
Trustee for Lochalsh Leisure Centre, Rhiannon Cumine said: “Well done and thank you to the absolute superstars at Kyleakin Primary and Nursery who managed to raise £271 towards our fundraising goal!
“We are hopeful for at least a partial reopening before the end of the year, but no date is confirmed yet. There is still some working being undertaken.
“Every penny raised counts, and helps us to ensure the future of the centre that we all love so dearly! The whole community has enjoyed the fundraising events so far, and we look forward to many more!”
