Story

Our accessibility ramp is old and in need updating.

The Lifeguards are taking on a massive challenge! After raising £4K for pool accessibility steps with a 10k run, they are now planning to swim 66km (Dover to Calais and back) in a Pells Pool relay to raise another £8K for a pool accessibility hoist to further improve access for wheelchair users.

At Pells Pool on June the 14th, 10 lifeguards will swim in turns aiming to make the distance for a team relay channel swim and back! Mirroring a channel swim, each of the 4 swimmers in the 'to France team' are likely to keep to an impressive pace of 3km an hour and swim 8km each. A further 6 wonderful 'and back' swimmers will complete the return trip.

Why we are raising money for accessibility:

We strongly believe that the Pells is a community asset for everybody. Being in the outside waters of the lido, experiencing the peaceful environment, the water, the skies and the trees is very special to everyone. This year, we are on our way to improve our access for those with disabilities by providing improvements to the pool with a new set of accessibility steps and a hoist.

To help us on our way, the Enjoolata Foundation https://www.enjoolata.org/ have already kindly donated £1500.00 as match funding for the 10K run, helping us reach the first £3000. A big thankyou to Enjoolata for all your continued support !

Please donate and come along on the 14th of June to cheer on our wonderful lifeguards as they swim to 'France and Back!'

A bit about the pool:

We are a community based, not for profit pool. Each year, between April and November, we open every day and welcome thousands of people to our unique lido.

Pells is a friendly and inclusive pool and operates as a ‘not for profit’ charity aiming to support wellbeing and health across our community.

First opened in 1861, Pells is an unheated, spring-fed pool, 50 yards (46m) long and 25 yards (23m) wide. As well as the main pool, there’s a paddling pool for kids, a sauna, a sun terrace and a beautiful tree-lined lawn, where you can picnic and relax after an invigorating plunge.

The water is heated by the sun, so the water is usually cool at the start of the season but soon warms up as the weeks go by.