As we are all aware, Folkestone Sports Centre has gone into administration.  This affects the whole community of Folkestone and Hythe. Many people in the area use the facilities and with it being shut means they won’t be able to access certain types of sports that the centre offers.

The closure of the sports centre means that children are without swimming lessons during term time with their schools which is a legal requirement for children in either KS1 or KS2 to complete swimming lessons.  Adults who struggle with their mental health won’t be able to use the facilities as there are now not any public gyms available in the area. People who go to centre to enjoy all the different varieties of sports now cannot do this. The centre is such a big hub for the area that and it is devastating that it is going to close. 

As One of Club Captain’s of Folkestone Swimming Club , it’s a shame what has happened to the centre and it is a big loss it is for us swimmers who use the pool to train multiple times a week. This not only affects the swimmers but the coaches and volunteers who put all their effort into keeping the club running and providing the services for swimmers to keep swimming. 

The centre is a place where people make friendships and learn vital skills that will be needed later on in life.  Here’s a statement from one of the swimmers:

”I really like this club and the friendships I made with the people here are amazing and probably going to be forever, I enjoy swimming loads and it's my hobby/daily thing to do and to lose the opportunity to train with great coaches and good friends upsets me because I enjoy developing and making progress in my swimming career through school” 

This just shows how important the centre is for the local area and how much this centre means to people.

We also need to consider all the staff that have lost their jobs. The centre is a decent sized employer and will be a massive loss to the local economy.

Please sign this petition to help us save the sports centre.