OVER 2,200 SIGNATURES – BUT OUR FIGHT ISN'T OVER

We have now passed 2,200 signatures on our petition to protect Penrith Swimming Club's Learn to Swim provision.

That is an incredible show of support. Thank you to every swimmer, parent, former member, volunteer and member of our wider community who has stood alongside us.

But there have also been some significant developments.

This may be bigger than Penrith
Since launching our campaign, more than 20 swimming clubs and people connected with clubs from across the country have contacted us about similar experiences or concerns surrounding club-run Learn to Swim provision.

Some have lost beginner programmes. Some have had access to teaching pools restricted. Others have had to relocate provision or negotiate new arrangements with leisure operators.

We are now compiling these experiences into an evidence pack because what started as a local issue is beginning to raise much wider questions about the relationship between volunteer swimming clubs and leisure operators.

We still have questions about the 10–12 week review
We subsequently learned that GLL had reportedly monitored pool usage for 10 to 12 weeks, without first approaching PSC about its concerns.

We have now made nearly seven separate requests for information or clarification about this process.

GLL has provided us with some information, but we still do not believe we have received a full explanation of what was monitored throughout those 10–12 weeks, what was recorded or how the additional operational and lifeguarding costs subsequently reported to the Council were calculated.

If there were concerns about our provision, we continue to ask a very simple question:

Why wasn't the first step simply to speak to us?

We remain in limbo
On 1 August, we were told that following the summer break PSC “will not be authorised to operate any Junior Learn to Swim sessions” during our pool hire.

We regarded that as an ultimatum.

Westmorland & Furness Council has subsequently said discussions remain ongoing and that no final decision has been made.

We welcome those discussions, but this leaves our volunteer committee in an extremely difficult position. We have to plan our membership, finances, coaching and the future of a club which has served Penrith since 1881.

Is this ultimately about potential revenue?
GLL has now told us that children attending our programme could potentially otherwise attend the leisure centre's own Learn to Swim programme.

That raises an important question for us: are children choosing to learn to swim through a community club being viewed as potential customers and potential revenue for another programme?

We are not asking for GLL's swimming lessons to stop.

We have never asked for that.

We believe both programmes can coexist.

If historic arrangements need formalising, let's formalise them. If responsibilities need clarifying, let's agree them.

But we continue to ask what evidence-based reason there is for removing the beginning of a pathway which has served generations of Penrith swimmers.

Please keep signing 💙
2,200 signatures is incredible, but this is not resolved.

Please keep signing. Please keep sharing. Please encourage friends, family and former members to add their voices.

The bigger this petition becomes, the harder it is to ignore the strength of feeling behind protecting our club.

Protect the beginning.
Protect the pathway.
Protect the future.

#WeArePenrith #ThisMeansMore #ProtectThePathway #SavePenrithSwimmingClub