We visit Bristol's first community-owned pool that is determined to stay afloat

Just over a year after saving their local swimming pool from closure, a group of residents in south Bristol are working to secure the long-term future of the facility.   

Friends of Jubilee Pool were granted a community asset transfer of Jubilee Pool on Jubilee Road in Knowle at the end of September 2022, after the council said it could no longer afford to maintain the facility.

Now the Friends group, led by chair and local resident Jules Laming, are putting all their efforts into keeping the pool afloat. 

Recently, they were granted around £20,000 from Sport England to help cover heating bills over the winter. But Jules says more than £2m is needed to totally repair the 86-year-old building.  

“When we took the pool on, [Bristol mayor Marvin Rees] made it clear we can only have it without support from council,” says Jules, who says the council has blocked funding for the group.         

“There are huge challenges and the council has not made it easier.” 

The pool, which opened in 1937, runs sessions throughout the week - including for refugee women and LGBT groups. Earlier in 2023, swimmers also raised £13,500 for the facility during a non-stop 24 hour relay.  

On a busy recent morning, an accessible swim session was taking place in the pool, with elderly women also on one side of the pool and a dads and baby group on another.    

As well as a pool, there is also a gym at the facility, where people can see a personal trainer for advice and support. 

“This place is a real godsend,” said Sally Brown, who was swimming in the pool with a friend.  

“It’s a life-saver, without this pool everybody that comes here would be desperate. I've got lung disease and swimming helps my lungs.    

“Today I’m going to see the trainer because of a back and knee problem. 

“Thank God for the people that went to the effort to save the pool, it doesn’t matter about the surroundings as long as we’ve got it. 

“I came here with my infants school over 60 years ago and I’ve come back. I didn’t realise it was open, how good it was and every person I speak to, they love this place.” 

Jules admits the process of running the pool has been ‘full on’ for the Friends group, which is made up of six core members.   

“Leading this project on behalf of the community, not ourselves, it’s a full-time job and sometimes that’s why it’s so disappointing that we’re getting so little support from Bristol City Council,” she adds. 

The terms of the 35-year lease from the council could see the Friends eventually having to share profits from the pool with the council. 

Jules continued: "We’re not-for-profit, so to expect us to give over an element of whatever profit we make is an unreasonable position to take, it’s not a huge-money making facility. 

“Any money we make, all of it goes back into the pool, so it goes back into supporting, utilising, improving the building and running the charity.”   

The swimming pool, which is operated by Parkwood, is used by residents of Knowle and the surrounding communities such as Filwood, where there also used to be a pool.  

“We’ve seen membership increase, income levels steadily increase - the community is making a success of it,” Jules goes on, with Jubilee being the first community-owned pool in Bristol.      

“It’s been incredibly tiring and stressful but also rewarding because we, together with people that use and don't use the swimming pool, understand the value of it and the benefits it brings.    

“It’s a magical, magical place that has had such a significant role since 1937 and that still applies today.”

Bristol City Council has been contacted for comment.