Published Monday 14 November 2016 at 15:19
Local organisation, the Half Fish Foundation say they are looking to make a big splash as they take over the running of Daisyfield Pools.
The foundation that delivers swim teaching and coaching, lifeguarding and first aid courses to the leisure industry has now been appointed to manage the Daisy Lane building.
The move follows the announcement by Blackburn with Darwen Council just over 12 months ago that due to budget reductions from government, the Council would have to look at new ways of working.
After receiving feedback from customers, stakeholders and schools that the facility was a much valued community asset local organisations were invited to apply to take over the running of the swimming pool.
A rigorous selection process followed and the HALF Fish Foundation; a local company with an exceptional reputation for excellence in swim teaching, coaching and training was selected.
A family business it is led by coach education and award winning tutor, Shelley Whitehead, who set up the charitable foundation to develop aquatics in the community.
She plans to expand what was previously offered to the community at Daisyfield as well establishing a ‘Swim University’, for swimming lessons and reintroducing a water polo team.
She said:
We’re delighted to have been chosen as it’s a great opportunity to develop grassroots swimming.
We’ve have been up and running at Daisyfield about a week and the feedback has been absolutely fantastic.
We’ve listened to people’s suggestions and taken a lot of them on board and we now just really need the community to get behind us and help us make it a success.
Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Leisure at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
The Council has had to reconsider how it does things in the light of its budget savings.
However, we have listened to the community who told us that Daisyfield Pools is somewhere they felt was important to them and their families.
Working with The HALF Fish Foundation secures it as a community facility for residents to use and breathe new life into a much loved swimming pool. I would encourage local people to offer their full support to HALF Fish and make full use of excellent opportunities they offer.
For more information on what is available at Daisyfield Pools call 01254 433840, or email on halffishhq@hotmail.com.