Getting Involved

Getting involved with the pool really isn't as time consuming or difficult

as it may seem!

Because we are no longer a school pool you don't have to have children at Heckington St Andrews in order to help.

In fact, you don't have to have children at all!

The pool is a community facility which is available to all - young and not quite so young!

Something it seems very few are aware of and we are working very hard to promote!

There is always lots to do; looking after the pool, our bathers and spectators when the pool is in use; general maintenance, gardening and upkeep of the pool and grounds; planning, organising and promoting fundraising ideas and of course promoting the pool as a community rather than school facility.

How can I help?

There are lots of ways you may be able to help us.

You can support the pool by volunteering to help poolside, even if you have just one hour or one afternoon to spare.

Or if you prefer, you can offer your support 'backstage' either by joining or supporting the Committee.

Simply spreading the word that the pool is here and available to be used is another way you can play a part in supporting us.

The pool is open from May to September each year, weather permitting, and so is a very busy time poolside, with our open hours restricted only by the number of volunteers available to be on duty while it is used.

We have to provide a volunteer Lifesaver 'First' together with a supporting Poolside Assistant 'Second' whenever the pool is open, with exception to private hire parties when as a general rule, those attending the party assume the additional 'Second' duties and only a Lifesaver is provided.

The 'First' on duty has overall responsibility, including the health, safety and conduct of bathers, with the 'Second' supporting them in that role and keeping an eye on poolside conduct and behaviour of bathers and spectators. Ideally we would also like to have a Snack Bar Assistant on duty when the pool is in use, to sell refreshments and ice-creams. If you can help here, even for just one hour during the summer, please get in touch. But, in the absence of a snack bar assistant the Second helps out with this role. Both help each other with the cleaning and tidying after swimming has finished.

Free Community Lifesaver Award training is provided by Heckington Community Swimming Pool Committee to any volunteer willing to dedicate a bit of their time poolside as a 'First'. This is a recognised First Aid award which is valid for 24 months - for more information visit www.lifesavers.org.uk

Full instruction and support is given to all taking on the roles of both Firsts and Seconds and we've put together a little manual that may help - see below.

Don't worry, you won't be 'thrown in at the deep end'!

(We don't actually have a deep end!)

   Not only do we have to maintain the health and safety of our users, we also have to maintain the pool itself and all our equipment.

Keyholders take care of the chemical stability and cleanliness of the water and the pool itself, checking chemical levels daily, backwashing the filter and vacuuming the pool regularly (usually every two or three days). They are also on hand should they be needed in case of an emergency such as a power failure or after a thunderstorm, just to check that the boiler, pump and filter are all on and working properly. Ideally a Keyholder will have a 'duty week', which enables them to get consistent experience in managing the pool and gives us peace of mind that the pool is being taken care of. Again, free training is given, all protocols and 'how to's' are printed and displayed on site and are included in a manual for you too.

It really isn't as difficult or complicated as it may seem and there is a great deal of satisfaction gained in knowing everything is just perfect for our swimmers. You also have free access to the pool for your own use during your duty week if it isn't in use for community sessions or private hires!

We also need to take care of the buildings, fences, hedges, slabs and block paving and so having a few willing volunteers to take on the role of caretaker/gardener would make things so much easier! If you can help, please let us know.

Don't want to help poolside?

That isn't a problem! There is always something going on behind the scenes!

 We welcome anyone who may be able to help with advertising, PR, fundraising, helping out at events, filling in forms, coming up with new and wonderful ideas for making money!

Heckington Community Swimming Pool is a Registered Charity, number 1098836, looked after by a volunteer committee tasked with raising funds to keep it in operation. But with continually increasing utility costs and a raft of essential maintenance, repair and replacement costs being incurred in the past couple of years, the need to raise funds is an ever increasing priority!

Even if you can't help directly, your indirect support would be most welcomed. Could you host a fundraising event that could raise funds for us? A coffee morning, a pamper evening, jumble sale or sponsored event? Do you have any product or service you could donate to the pool; do you know of anyone who would like to act as a benefactor, willing to make a cash donation?

Heckington Community Swimming Pool would be very pleased to let our users know who is supporting us and how, by advertising your name or organisation on any literature we produce and of course on this website!