Community Foundation’s £25k kick-starts La Vallette project
THE temperatures are falling, but al fresco swimming ticked all the boxes for the Guernsey Community Foundation so it donated £25,000 to the charity redeveloping La Vallette.
Building work by the pools started yesterday after Vive La Vallette secured nearly £900,000 towards the £1.5m. project.
The grant from the Community Foundation tipped the balance to allow work to begin.
Jim Roberts, the chief executive of the foundation, explained why the idea appealed to them.
‘The team behind Vive La Vallette showed the foundation how they intend for the new development to be an asset for the whole community to enjoy, with the new-look building providing accessible space, shelter and facilities for young and old alike.
‘It’s well-established that cold water swimming provides huge benefits to an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing, and we’re pleased to be able to support a project that puts health and happiness at its core.’
The foundation’s grants panel considers multiple applications all year round and they should be for a minimum of £5,000.
Mr Roberts said they were open to anything.
‘Vive La Vallette shows the breadth of the foundation’s grant-giving programme.
‘We’re interested in any not-for-profit endeavour that will benefit islanders and enhance the island’s quality of life.
‘We would encourage any voluntary organisation or registered charity to come and talk to us.’
Year-round open water swimming has gone from cult past-time to island phenomenon in the last decade, especially since lockdown.
The centrepiece of the plans is La Vallette bathing pools, and in 2019 Vive La Vallette was announced as the preferred bidder to redevelop the site.
Since then, the charity has completed its negotiations with the States, finalised architectural designs, obtained planning permission, successfully started its fundraising programme, and commenced the building work.
It is anticipated that the first stage of the project – the new cafe, changing rooms, and community function space – will be completed by spring 2022.
A temporary changing cabin has been installed at the top of the slipway for existing key holders, and the pools will remain accessible throughout the work.
