The Trust
Portishead Open Air Pool is today a charitable Trust, run by trustees and staffed largely by volunteers. We rely on the support of the local community and a handful of dedicated volunteers who give their time and expertise to ensure this local gem keeps operating.
By visiting the pool, you are helping to keep it going for future generations so please help us spread the word if you enjoy your visit.
How the Trust was formed
North Somerset Council produced a report in 2008 that determined that the open air pool was a financial liability and that it should be closed. The future of the pool had been uncertain for some time. A group of six local people formed a company limited by guarantee (which means that ALL profits must be put back into the pool) in order to save and run the pool. This is the Portishead Pool Community Trust.
After a fairly short period of time the Trust managed to convince the Council that it had a feasible business plan to run the pool, and in early 2009 a 99-year lease was agreed with the Council, securing the pool’s long-term future.
We became a Registered Charity in April 2009, and our main charitable objective is to keep the pool open for the benefit of people in Portishead and the surrounding area.
How it works
The Trust is run by Directors of the Company who are also known as Trustees. Currently there are 5 trustees who are unpaid volunteers.
Trustees are elected by members of the Trust at the annual general meeting. There are currently about 80 members. Anyone can become a member, and it is essential for the future success of the Trust that membership increases and remains high.
Trustees hold regular monthly board meetings.
There are 2 management sub-committees, consisting of the trustees and other key people, which meet regularly. They are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Trust’s business. Reports from these meetings are given monthly to the board of trustees.
At the time of writing, these sub-committees are: Pool operations and Cafe operations. This is likely to change in the near future as we move towards a model where the Trustees are more involved in strategic long-term planning, and the paid staff together with volunteers on site are more responsible for the day-to-day running of the pool.
Our first AGM was in November 2009, and we hold them every year. At each AGM a percentage of the current Trustees must resign, and stand for re-election (if they decide to do so). Any other members of the Trust can also stand for election, and all members of the Trust can vote.
Meet the Trustees
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Jeremy Piggott
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Karen Whitaker
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Andrea Goude
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Claudia Amos
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Ruth Smith