Moray Hydrotherapy Pool granted £1000 by Tesco Bags of Help scheme for running costs
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A REGIONAL health facility in Forres has been awarded £1000 by a supermarket nomination scheme.
Moray Hydrotherapy Pool got a £1000 community grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme towards continuing to aid the health and wellbeing of all residents of ages, particularly those who may be disabled, have ill health or other conditions.
Chairman of the pool’s board of trustees, Chris Combe, was delighted to hear about the funding.
He said: “We originally applied for a grant back in April, 2019. We weren’t successful but had been told we may possibly be in April, 2020.
“We went into lockdown in March, 2020 and have not been able to reopen yet, so it was a surprise to receive a letter in March this year saying that we had been granted £1000!”
The pool on Burdsyard Road is run by a registered charity for the region’s community.
People with medical conditions can benefit from its heat, which offers a great way to relax and promotes good health.
Mr Combe said: “It is not viable for us to open the pool until the current rules have been totally relaxed.
“I am hopeful, with rules being relaxed, we may be able to open in late June or July.”
He added: “We share a complex with Forres Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre, so we are communicating with the manager and plan to meet again to discuss what the Scottish Government rules are at the time.”
Moray Hydrotherapy Pool requires around £20,000 operational funding every year. The figure varies according to donations, usage and costs.
“While closed we have not been able to do any fundraising,” said Mr Combe. “However, we have received one or two donations.
“The pool was emptied during the first lockdown and the pools manager checks on it and the equipment every week.
“This is a cost to us and there have been some essential repairs, again funded by us.
“It’s important to keep the pool running as the public want to use it. When the swimming pool opened after the first lockdown, staff received more telephone calls about the hydro pool than the main pool.
Pool supervisor Barbara Stuart wants to see the hydropool reopened as soon as it can be.
She said: I’ve had quite a few of our regulars saying that their mobility has been affected due to not getting their hydro visits.
“It’s also missed for the social aspect. Some of our users were here at the same time on the same day every week so they got to know each other. Sometimes it was the only time in the week that they got the chance to see other people!”
