Fundraising pool tiles selling fast
STAFF at a swimming pool on Islay have sold more than 10,000 of its tiles to raise funds to keep the facility open.
The grout, expansion joints and areas of tiling have deteriorated to such an extent at the pool at the Mactaggart leisure centre in Bowmore, that a complete draining of the pool is required to undertake upgrade works.
The pool is a registered charity, run by the social enterprise company, Islay and Jura Community Enterprises, and had the work priced by a contractor at £17,000.
A campaign was launched in April to raise the necessary capital, with staff asking the community for help, selling the tiles off to raise funds, although it is more of a sponsorship as the tiles will not be physically removed.
Staff calculated that the 11,500 tiles, sold at a price of £1.50 each, would be enough to raise the money. To date, just 908 are still up for grabs.
Centre manager, Gary Scott, said: ‘It’s been absolutely fantastic. The pool is due to close during the first week in December, and by then we hope that the final 908 tiles will have gone.
‘I think people like the idea of buying a tile - it’s a tangible thing and they can relate to it.
‘ When the job is finished it won’t transform the pool, but it is absolutely essential maintenance, and should set us in good stead for another 20 years.
‘We have had some amazing donations. One woman anonymously bought 1000 tiles for £1500. We have had donations from a lot of people who don’t use the facilities too. So even though they don’t use the pool, they are sympathetic to the cause.’
Anyone wishing to help close the funding gap can purchase tiles at the pool reception, or can forward cheques, payable to Islay and Jura Community Enterprises, to Mactaggart Leisure Centre, School Street, Bowmore, Islay PA43 7JS.