We are raising much-needed funds to reopen Whitworth Leisure Centre.

Whitworth Leisure Centre CIC (Community Interest Company) is the brand new team taking over the running of Whitworth Leisure Centre. It has been an ongoing battle to convince Rossendale Borough Council to hand over the facility to this group of passionate locals so that we can reopen it to the public.

There is still a long way to go, and if we ever want our beloved swimming baths and leisure centre to be back up and running – we desperately need your help!

Without Whitworth Leisure Centre:

• Local schools are struggling to provide swimming lessons to pupils. They have been placed at other pools with reduced capacity, meaning children are not getting as much of a swimming education as they previously were.

• Whitworth Swimming Club has been displaced after more than 50 years. The swimming club was responsible for providing discounted swimming lessons to children via volunteers and for training a number of lifeguards over the years.

• Local residents are having to travel further afield to attend already jam-packed swimming facilities. Those who do not drive, including seniors, have limited options.

• Rossendale Valley has lost much-needed swimming lanes. According to Rossendale Borough Council’s own document, the Valley is already short of numerous swimming lanes, meaning existing leisure centres are running over capacity and more than 500 children are on waiting lists for swimming lessons.

Swimming is a life skill that every child should have the opportunity to learn!

The Story So Far…

• Whitworth Leisure Centre was closed for the first time in the early 2000s

• The people of Whitworth rallied together and created CLAW – a charity that successfully reopened the leisure centre in 2003. In 2005, CLAW also took over the running of The Ashcroft (formerly ‘The Riverside’) after another long battle with Rossendale Borough Council.

• Both Whitworth Leisure Centre and The Riverside ran successfully for nearly 20 years with the help of a small grant from Rossendale Borough Council (£40-£60k per year for both facilities).

• During the pandemic in 2019, Rossendale Borough Council advised CLAW to hand the facilities over to Rossendale Leisure Trust. CLAW agreed, believing the promises of increased security and extended access to grants/funding for future investments in the facility.

• In May 2023 during a closed meeting Rossendale Borough Council announced the permanent closure of Whitworth Leisure Centre. RBC’s reasons for closure included the financial pressures of the council and the amount of funding needed to keep the leisure centre open.

• In June 2023, Whitworth Town Council held a public meeting, which was attended by more than 200 frustrated local residents.

• Following the public meeting, a small group of local residents (including some members of the former CLAW charity) met to review Rossendale Borough Council’s building report and determine whether or not there was hope for the leisure centre.

• A Facebook group set up dedicated to saving Whitworth Leisure Centre attracted more than 2000 names, demonstrating further need and support for the leisure centre.

• The small group of local residents formed Whitworth Leisure Centre CIC (community interest company). They had ongoing discussions with Whitworth Town Council and Rossendale Borough Council with the end goal of having the leisure centre handed over so it can be reopened and run by Whitworth Leisure Centre CIC.

• RBC have transferred ownership to Whitworth Town Council and the CIC have entered into a lease to run the facility.

We Need Your Help

This is the only official fundraising page for Whitworth Leisure Centre. Every penny donated will go towards the reopening of the facility. Unfortunately, Rossendale Leisure Trust has overseen a “managed decline” in the 2 years they ran the facility and funds are now needed to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance of the building before it can reopen.

All funds raised will go towards:

• Initial repairs, refurbishment and maintenance of the building

• Start-up costs of running the facilities, including insurance, staffing, uniforms etc.

• Ongoing revenue support until the facility reaches previous profit levels.

We are aiming to raise - £20,000 - but we cannot do it without you! Every donation, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated.

With that being said, we understand that times are increasingly hard. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, many people do not have funds to spare and that is OK. Instead, we ask that you help us spread the word far and wide. Share our page, send it to your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbours and tell everyone you know. Every share helps!

Thank you for reading, donating and sharing. If you have any questions regarding the re-opening of Whitworth Leisure Centre – please contact whitworthleisurecentre2023@outlook.com

Are you a tradesperson? Can you volunteer some of your time and skills to help us repair the facility? Please reach out!