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Groups told council cash is being pulled

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A LIFEGUARD training club may have to close after 40 years after its funding was cut off by Luton Borough Council.

Challney Lifeguards, which offers low-cost swimming lessons and lifeguard training, received a letter saying its funding would be pulled at the end of the month.

More than 100 groups in Luton have been told their funding is ending, to save the council £150,000.

The authority has always paid for the club to hire a pool, previously at Challney Girls School but now at Denbigh, and the committee will now have to find £6,000 a year to pay for the hire itself.

This is in addition to cash it already raises to pay for equipment, professional qualifications and insurance.

“We’re run by volunteers, nobody gets paid,” said fundraiser and swimming instructor Wendy Mann. “We take children from age five up, we teach them to swim, and teach first aid skills and lifeguarding skills.

“We have taught so many children to swim. A lot of families who can’t afford expensive swimming lessons, so we keep our fees to a minimum.

“The government wants to do exercise and stay off the streets – we’ve been helping with that for years.

“Three years ago they looked at our funding and we thought it was curtains. But they came to look at us and were blown away by what we were doing for the community.

“We have all different ethnic groups, we have children with disabilities, we’ve got a little deaf boy coming soon.”

The club has been told to apply to Luton Airport’s community fund, but have to match any grant they receive.

“I’m guessing there are going to be a lot of groups applying, will there be enough to go around?” said Wendy.

A council spokeswoman said the airport fund had £500,000 available for community activity.

“Alternatively, the group could seek to negotiate an affordable fee with the school or use alternative premises such as a community centre,” she added.

>Have you been affected? Will your group or club be able to survive without council help?


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