Issue - meetings

Verbal update by Fiona MacAlpine

The group gave consideration to a verbal update from Fiona MacAlpine and Kirsty Young of MACPool.  Ms MacAlpine advised the group that MACPool was a charitable organisation which relied heavily on bursary and grant funding.  She outlined a number of volunteer initiatives run by the pool in order to offer a lifeguard service but also training opportunities to younger users of the pool.  Ms MacAlpine advised that she had recently joined the MACPool team and had been busy working to secure the re-establishment of school swimming, and provide families on low incomes with ways in which they could get their children into the water.  She highlighted the services already in place which included the successful Learn to Swim programme and Mid Argyll Dolphins swimming group.  Ms MacAlpine also outlined the work undertaken by the pool to stay relevant within the local community and the additional activities which they offer such as the Crinan Puffer, a successful annual event which sees running enthusiasts run from Crinan to Ardrishaig along the 8 and a half mile Crinan Canal. 

Ms Young spoke of the challenges faced by the pool in maintaining the running costs and the recruitment and retention of staff, who require an extensive training programme. 

The Community Development Officer offered to attend the pool to speak with both Ms MacAlpine and Ms Young on ways in which they can tie in with the A816 Steering Group. 

The Chair thanked both Ms MacAlpine and Ms Young for the information provided. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the update.