A storage company has put its support behind the Friends of Hamworthy Park charity – to help it keep the popular paddling pool open.

Store & Secure, based in Hamworthy, has given the Friends a free unit to store its equipment. The charity fundraises so the council has enough money to maintain the pool and open it each year.

The circular paddle-pool was opened in 1931 and is massively popular, but it costs £40,000 a year to run. The water requires testing three times a day and the infrastructure requires regular repairs.

Malcom Swords from the Friends of Hamworthy Park said:

“We are so grateful to Store & Secure. The unit enables us to store our fundraising and other equipment, saving us a great deal of money.  It means we have more funds which we can use to look after the park and keep the pool open."

“We work closely with the council - which has funding shortfalls – to ensure the pool can be opened for six-and-a-half weeks during the height of the holiday season.  It costs around £40,000 a year to maintain it and without our fundraising it wouldn’t open."

“People can donate through our website and there are QR codes around the pool.

“There is also a café at the pool which is open every day except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.”

Lucy Maidman, who runs Store & Secure with her ‘storage sister’ Sophie, said:

“Hamworthy Park was where we spent our childhood. We were taken to the pool as children and we now take our children there.  It is something generations of people have enjoyed and we are very pleased to play a small part in keeping it open.”

The charity is looking for volunteers and for more information contact Malcolm Swords on MalcolmSwords@friendsofhamworthypark.co.uk

Photo: Lucy Maidman, Malcolm Swords from Friends of Hamworthy park, Sophie Maidman, Kavan Wood