Humberston Hydrotherapy pool saved for another year
Sky-high energy bills meant the facility needed £60,000 to be able to continue
Last updated 20th Jun 2025
North East Lincolnshire’s last remaining hydrotherapy pool has been saved for another full year.
The Humberston Hydrotherapy Pool at Humberston Park School had been at risk of closure.
It has helped many adults and children with disabilities since opening in 2006.
Sky-high energy bills meant the facility needed £60,000 to be able to continue for another year.
Trustee of the pool and Humberston Park School business manager Gemma Rylatt had said that annual energy costs had risen from £12,000 to £30,000, and fundraising efforts had declined in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A public health grant from North East Lincolnshire Council and a fundraising campaign has now helped achieve the funding needed to secure it for another year.
Trustee of the pool and the school’s headteacher Richard Gargon said: “On behalf of Humberston Park School and the entire pool-user community, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to every donor who has generously given their time, energy, and financial support to help keep the hydrotherapy pool open.
"Your kindness and commitment have made an extraordinary difference to both Humberston Park School pupils, many of whom rely on hydrotherapy as a vital part of their physical, sensory, and emotional development, and the extensive wider community who use this invaluable resource.”
"real financial challenge"
A campaign was launched in late April to help the pool raise the funds needed.
“In a time of real financial challenge, your support has helped protect a lifeline that brings joy, comfort, and progress to many people, young and old, every single day,” said Mr Gargon. “Thank you for standing with us.”
The campaign helped raise £40,000 for the pool in just 24 hours.
At this month’s council cabinet meeting, Cllr Stan Shreeve (Conservative – Humberston and New Waltham Ward) revealed the council’s part in bridging the remaining funding gap, during an item on future school sixth form plans. “It’s the site of the best and only hydrotherapy pool in the borough, which we’ve been able to support to enable to stay open, which is really good news,” he stated.
He said afterwards the school raised the hydrotherapy pool with ward councillors in a meeting. They asked if ward funding might be possible but the amount needed was too high.
However, Cllr Shreeve is the portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and social care, and asked adult services and the director of public health, Diane Lee, about possible suitable funding schemes.
Ms Lee visited in May, accompanied by Cllr Shreeve. “Diane took the view almost immediately, sometimes decisions feel right because they are right,” Cllr Shreeve said. A public health grant has been awarded.
“It’s an amazing facility,” said Cllr Shreeve. “It’s a facility that we just can’t lose.”