The Yorkshire Swim Works

A visit to Margate Lido on a bright, breezey summer’s day is simultaneously a source of huge frustration and inspiration. It’s sad to witness first-hand the decline of once-great social, health and heritage infrastructure. But, there’s such a great opportunity to revive these important spaces, to create places to meet, exercise and engage in nature. The finances are challenging and need a mixture of heritage funding, social prescribing, coffee shops, open water swimming, swimming lessons, and all sorts of income streams. Social entrepreneurs needed! Nonetheless there’s projects greenlighting around the country. Redbridge is the latest. Huge kudos all those pioneering this difficult vision. Especially my friends Future Lidos Deborah Aydon. #wildswimming #openwaterswimming #socialprescribing

🙏 As we wrap up The National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported Pooling Resources project, we’d like to say a big thank you to the team behind the project and the creation of the Lido Toolkit. Originator and Project Director Deborah Aydon, who hatched the idea, shaped the plan, secured the funding, led the project, and masterminded the Toolkit. Project Co-ordinator Frances Smith, the essential connecting point and staunch support for this ever-growing network, who handled project admin and funder liaison, and acted as Picture Editor on the Toolkit. The Steering Group of Michael Wood, Chris Romer-Lee, Judi Hughes, Caroline Kindy and Niall Kenny, for working so hard to expand the network, raise the profile of the sector, and help keep the project on track - great connectors, passionate advocates and wise heads all. Our subject Specialists, Emma Boggis (Advocacy), Andrew Lerpiniere (Environment), Nathan Miller (Community), Chris Romer-Lee (Design) and Nick Stuart (Business), for their generous collaboration, deep expertise and rigorous research. Web Designers Evolve Your Digital, who went far, far above and beyond in their creativity, skill, ingenuity, patience and dedication to making the Toolkit the best it could be. And Toolkit Editor Fiona Shaw for her deft touch, cool head and wise judgement. Jem Collins, who created so much rich social media content; Linda Byrne, who devised our lovely logo and brand identity; Kate Rodenhurst, who was our astute Evaluator, and the board of The People's Pool / Our Lido Ltd — Pam Barrett, John Lowe and Lynda Thwaite — for project governance and, crucially, for paying the bills! Thanks to the 25 lidos featured in our case studies, for sharing their experience so generously, and to the vast network of lido operators, project leaders and ally organisations who contributed questions, answers, insight and expertise that helped make the Toolkit such a rich resource — their mutual support and respect is the essence of Future Lidos. And finally, thanks to all the anonymous individuals who generously shared their lived experiences, enriching the Toolkit’s insight into developing lidos that are truly for all. You can access the full Toolkit online now ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eGuwPtPB #Lidos #FutureLidos #PoolingResources #Toolkit #Sustainability #Wellbeing #Community #Network #Collaboration #YearOfTheLido #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork