A struggling hydrotherapy pool is asking the public to help them develop fundraising ideas to keep it afloat.
Moray Hydrotherapy Pool in Forres was awarded £20,000 in council funding for its first three years in operation, but the local authority withdrew their support in February.
Councillors heard the pool was a failing enterprise, losing in the region of £41,000 each year, and said they could not justify subsidising it.
Since the decision, local people have rallied behind the team at the hydrotherapy pool – donating more £4,250.
And now the volunteers who run the pool are inviting people with fundraising suggestions to attend a public meeting in Forres next week.
The chairman of the pool’s board of trustees Chris Combe said: “We are absolutely delighted by the support we have received since the council decision was announced.
“Supporters have been coming forward asking what they can do, and many have come up with excellent fundraising ideas which we would love to adopt.
“Unfortunately, the board is made up of only eight volunteers, and we simply don’t have the manpower to progress these ideas.
“We’ve had a lot of suggestions that are worthy of following up, and we felt that the best way to do that was to hold a public meeting where supporters can come along and have their say.”
Councillors on the children and young people’s services committee stressed that its original agreement with the centre was to grant money for only three years – after which point it would generate its own funding.
The pool’s committee asked that the grant be extended for one extra year.
Members were tied on whether to continue supporting the pool, and it came to Forres independent councillor and committee chairwoman Anne Skene to cast the deciding vote.
Over the past months funds have been raised for the pool through Moray community groups and individuals, with a coffee morning raising over £1,000 and the Rotary Club of Forres pledging a further £1,000.
Other donors included Forres Golf Club and the Canny Wi’ Cash initiative, which support projects for people over 60, pledged £1,500.
The meeting will take place from 7pm to 9pm next Wednesday, April 22, at Forres Lesser Town Hall.