Who we are
Hampton Pool Trust is the governing body of the public open-air swimming pool at Hampton, having taken over responsibility for this from the Council in 1985. It is a not-for-profit Company limited by guarantee which is registered as an educational charity.
The objects for which the Trust is established are:
- To provide swimming and associated facilities at Hampton Swimming Pool situated at High Street, Hampton, Middlesex, for the benefit all of all the inhabitants of Hampton, Hampton Hill and local area aforesaid without distinction of sex or political or other opinions.
- To associate with local authorities, voluntary organisations and the said inhabitants in a common effort to provide, in the interests of social welfare, such swimming and associated facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
How we operate
The Company is led by an unpaid volunteer Board of Directors, who are also Trustees of the Charity, and who are elected to carry these responsibilities by the Members of the Company. Trustees serve a three-year tenure and must then stand for re-election by the Members if they wish to continue to serve on the Board.
The Trust fulfils its duties through the following committees, each of which operate under Terms of Reference that are reviewed annually:
- Operations & Oversight
- Fundraising & Outreach
- Finance
- Governance & Ethics
- Building Development
There is also a Summer Picnic concerts team who have delegated responsibility for the organisation and production of 6 fundraising events each year.
Hampton Pool Trust Strategy
The context
Hampton Pool Trust is the independent charitable trust responsible for securing the long‑term future of Hampton Pool as a sustainable, inclusive, year‑round community facility. The Trust operates in partnership with the pool operator South Downs Leisure and key stakeholders, including The Royal Parks and The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Strategic Vision
To secure the future of Hampton Pool as a sustainable, enjoyable, inclusive, year-round open-air environment for swim and exercise.
Our Mission
To work to ensure the continuing operation of the pool for use by future generations and to extend the positive impact of engagement with Hampton Pool on the health and wellbeing of all in the community.
Review
The Board reviewed progress with the Strategy at the HPT Away Day held in September 2025 and developed the strategic priorities for the following period. As many of the strategic headlines continue into the next five year period, it was agreed to progress a focused, deliverable one year strategy for the period April 2026 to March 2027, reflecting:
- The transition to a new operator.
- The current pause as we seek funding for the next stage of the building development, the extent of which will inform the next stage of work.
- Critical time-specific risks connected with fundraising and licensing.
The Strategy provides a clear framework for Board oversight, committee workplans, and stakeholder communication. The 2026/27 period is defined by:
- Early delivery of benefits from the new operator (learning from the first 10 months of operation).
- A pause between completion of Stage 1A and funding for Stage 1B of the building development.
- An urgent need to strengthen Board capacity, fundraising capability, and governance resilience.
Objectives
1. To be financially and environmentally sustainable.
Hampton Pool Trust is a non-profit making organisation that runs Hampton Pool for the benefit of the local community. These headline objectives are supported by action/project plans which in some cases are developed by specific Board Committees and in other cases by project teams led by specific Board Directors.
Financial sustainability:
- By completing the building development for year-round revenue streams.
- By developing and implementing the fundraising strategy for the Trust.
- Through the development of pool infrastructure and by ensuring effective maintenance.
- By negotiating relevant licences from The Royal Parks to secure the pool throughout the period of the development and beyond.
2026/27 Priorities
Building Development
The Trust will maintain Stage 1B readiness while fundraising continues. No construction will begin without full financial confidence, in line with trustee duties.
- Maintain agreed scope for Stage 1B (no return to planning).
- Extend fundraising through Spring 2026.
- Reassess options if funding commitments are not secured in a timely fashion.
Fundraising Capacity and Delivery
Fundraising is the single most critical enabling activity in 2026/27. Despite a difficult funding climate, HPT has secured significant grants and must now focus on capacity and momentum.
- Revitalise fundraising networks.
- Update the fundraising strategy with input from new Trustees.
- Progress grant, loan, and community funding.
- Protect existing pledges and deadlines.
Environmental sustainability:
- By developing environmental initiatives in line with best practice (with London Plan and local plans as a minimum)
2026/27 Priorities
Consolidate and extend the benefits of the interventions funded from the Swimming Pool Support Fund award work with the operator to implement further steps towards energy efficiency and to reduce our carbon footprint.
2. To provide a safe, welcoming and enjoyable user experience:
- By meeting customer expectations through proactive partnership with our service provider.
- By ensuring that our buildings and infrastructure are fit for purpose and are updated in line with regulatory changes.
- By developing the pool in line with best practice in the open-air swimming pool community.
3. To extend community engagement in health and wellbeing activities.
- By further developing positive relationships with stakeholders.
- By review and redevelopment of our communication platforms and content.
- By developing our networks to extend community outreach and engagement in line with our charitable objectives.
HPT will continue to strengthen its role within local health, wellbeing, and physical activity networks, while addressing challenges around visibility and impact measurement.
2025/26 priorities:
- Review and deepen partnerships linked to social prescribing and targeted groups
- Strengthen communications platforms and content, in particular by review of the reach and impact based on new opportunities introduced by the partnership with the new operator
Legal structure
Hampton Pool Trust is a registered charity (294117) and a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (1870925).
The Trust has a board of voluntary honorary directors/trustees drawn from the local community who are also the trustees under charity law.
These people constitute the board of management who have overall responsibility for the policy and proper direction of the company.
Day-to-day management
The day-to-day management and administration of the Pool is carried out by professionally qualified staff from the leisure industry. From 1 April 2007 for 17 years, Hampton Pool was managed by YMCA St Paul’s Group (formerly YMCA London South West).
In 2025, following a competitive tender, the Trust awarded the operating contract for the next 10 years to South Downs Leisure (SDL).
South Downs Leisure is also a registered charity and brings extensive experience of running public leisure facilities to Hampton Pool, they operate several swimming pools, including Sea Lanes, the 50 metre heated outdoor pool on Brighton seafront.
Structure of the Trust
The Trust does not have shareholders but has members who have each guaranteed an amount of £25 should the company fail. These members have the right to elect directors at the Annual General Meeting and vote on matters relating to the Trust. Membership of the company is open to anyone over 18 who has the best interests of Hampton Pool at heart and applications are subject to the approval of the Board.
Annual Report
Trustees
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Andrew Gill – Chair |
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Stef Welkers– Finance director |
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Gill Radcliffe – Company Secretary |
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Nigel Brown |
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Mark Doyle – Honorary Officer (Concerts Producer) |
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Alex Dumbrell |
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Roxanne Glaud |
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Grahame Hadden |
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Stuart Leamy |
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Jill Livesey |
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Jane Savidge |
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Paul Seddon |
Listening to our neighbours and stakeholders
Hampton Pool Trust together with our operating partner South Downs Leisure are committed to listening to pool users, our neighbours, and stakeholders. We have established two groups to provide opportunities to hear about the Pool operation and current developments, including the building refurbishment.
Hampton Pool Consultative Group (HPCG)
The Hampton Pool Consultative Group is organised jointly by Hampton Pool Trust and South Downs Leisure, the operator of Hampton Pool. The group exists:
- To provide a forum for information exchange and discussion between Hampton Pool Trust, South Downs Leisure and stakeholder groups.
- To provide a regular opportunity for the SDL and the Trust to meet with stakeholders.
- To ensure the Trust and the SDL are aware of the views of the stakeholder groups.
- To ensure the stakeholder groups are kept informed of planned activities at the pool.
- To update the stakeholder groups on activities at the pool since the last meeting.
- To increase mutual understanding between stakeholder groups.
The Chair of Hampton Pool Consultative Group is appointed jointly by Hampton Pool Trust and South Downs Leisure. Meetings are held two or three times a year, with additional meetings as needed.
If you would like further information or to get in touch with your representative, please contact secretary@hamptonpooltrust.org.uk
Your email will be forwarded to the Chair or the representative on the group most closely matching your area of interest.
Members of the Hampton Pool Consultative Group
Representatives of Hampton Pool Trust
- Chair of the Trust (ex officio)
- Chair (or a deputy) of the Operations Committee
- Chair (or a deputy) of the Fundraising and Outreach Committee
Representatives of South Downs Leisure
- Pool Manager (or a Deputy Manager)
- Director of Operations or Head of Health & Wellbeing
- Operations Director or Business Development Director
Stakeholder Groups
A representative of each of the following stakeholder groups:
- Poolside Swim & Social Club
- General Swimmers
- Aqua Aerobics (Aqua Fit)
- Thames Turbo Triathlon Club
- Teddington SC Masters
- Gym users
- Water Polo
- Local Councillors
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Neighbours
- Bushy Park Allotments
- Family swim/Swim Lessons
Additional stakeholder groups may be invited by HPT and SDL to represent other sections of the pool user community.
The Neighbour Liaison Group (NLG)
Hampton Pool Trust together with our operating partner South Downs Leisure is committed to being a good neighbour. The Neighbour Liaison Group is being established to support this aim as we embark on a major redevelopment of Hampton Pool. If you live on one of the roads close to the pool you are invited to join our mailing list to receive updates and invitations to Neighbour Liaison Group Meetings.
The Neighbour Liaison Group will ensure that the local community is kept informed during the process of construction and refurbishment of the building at Hampton Pool.
The NLG will ensure the local community is kept informed and views listened to through the process of construction and refurbishment of the Hampton Pool Building.
The Group will provide information and updates about progress, with an opportunity for questions and answers.
Representatives from Hampton Pool Trust, South Downs Leisure and the Construction Team once appointed will be present at NLG meetings.
Councillors representing local wards, organisations connected with the pool and neighbours in the immediate vicinity will be invited to join the group.
The NLG exists alongside and is distinct from Hampton Pool Consultative Group which has a focus on the operation of the swimming pool.
NLG Meetings will be held quarterly in the first instance, with frequency reviewed once construction commences.
Regular progress updates about the building will also be made to HPCG and to the wider Trust membership and updates will be added to the Hampton Pool Trust website.
Details of how to join the group and the mailing list will be distributed to local addresses and publicised once the second stage planning approval is complete.
The early life of Hampton Pool
Frank Arthur Newton was aged 12 when his father gave him a cine camera. As a keen swimmer at the pool, he would go on to use it to capture all the fun and atmosphere in these two films from 1927 and 1933.
History of the Trust
Opening day in 1922
The pool and cubicles in the 1920s
The pool in the 1950s
The Urban District Council of Hampton originally opened Hampton Pool in 1922 and successive local authorities managed it until it was temporarily closed after the summer season of 1980.
Over the years the swimming pool had been enlarged and the current building was erected in 1960. For four years after closure in 1980 the pool became a fly tipper’s paradise. In 1983 the Council announced the permanent closure of the pool and the intention to return it to parkland. However, the plan was turned down by the planning committee, thanks to the late Councillor Gordon Banks who voted against his party and said that the Sink or Swim campaign should be given a chance to see what they could do.
The vigorous local ‘Sink or Swim’ campaign, along with a local by-election that led to a change in control of the Council in 1984, resulted in the Council challenging what is now Hampton Pool Trust to prove (via fundraising in the community) that there was sufficient local support for the reopening of the facility. They offered to match our efforts with a grant of a pound for every pound raised up to a total of £20,000. In fact, a total of £25,000 was raised, largely thanks to the organisation and inspiration of John Bryce (then Headmaster of Buckingham School), who marshalled a small army of volunteers who rattled buckets, ran events and generally worked tirelessly in support of the pool. That, and the grant of £25,000 from the soon to be defunct GLC, persuaded the Council and The Royal Parks that the pool should be reopened.
The first step was to provide heated water but other refurbishment was also carried out. This refurbishment was given a huge amount of support by the Manpower Services Commission’s Youth Training Scheme (YTS) which provided, at almost no cost to the pool, the staff who, along with an army of local volunteers, did a great deal of the work in clearing, painting and refurbishing the site ready for reopening. The YTS staff then went on to be the lifeguards for the first season.
Marshall Lees (centre with sheepskin coat) with local MP Toby Jessel (fourth from left) and other supporters
Overgrown and closed for over four years
Tony Harris, Gavin Alexander, Stuart Leamy, Jane Smith and Roy Freeman after the pool was handed to the Hampton Pool Limited (now Hampton Pool Trust) in December 1984.
Our achievements
Hampton Pool Trust is a not-for-profit company and a registered charity. Since 1985 when the pool re-opened to the public, the pool has developed into a valuable community facility, thanks to the huge, unpaid effort of trustees and well-wishers.
Over the years
- The second teaching pool was built at a cost of £120,000.
- Additional land was acquired from the Royal Parks (our landlord).
- The gym was created in 1989 and was completely refurbished in 2008.
In 1994, a major redevelopment plan, costed at £2.3 million, was submitted for planning permission and an application made to the National Lottery for part funding. Unfortunately this application was turned down.
Marshall Lees with Ronald Sim at the Sink or Swim fundraising Fun Run
The Sink or Swim fundraising Fun Run in Bushy Park
Guest of honour Olympic Gold winning medallist Duncan Goodhew cuts the cake at the Opening Party in 1985
With financial assistance from Hampton Fuel Allotments Charity (now Hampton Fund) and LBRuT, 2004 saw the completion of improvements that included the refurbishment of the pool tank (at a cost of some £370,000) and a new roof covering to repair the leaking building and the ‘new look’ Hampton Pool was reopened.
The first refurbishment of the interior of the main building during 2006 included the reception area, studio, changing rooms, underfloor heating and level access. In the autumn of 2007, the gym was refurbished with a second phase of changing room refurbishment completed in 2011 (jointly funded by HPT and YMCA London South West).
There remains much to do to improve the facility – including improvements to the changing rooms, gym and café, providing access to the first floor for people who cannot climb stairs and resurfacing, drainage and lighting of the car park.
Opening poster and subsequent timetable leaflets
Promoting the Splash For Cash fundraising event around the streets of Hampton
Splash For Cash fundraising event with guest of honour Chris Tarrant
Working with the our day-to-day managing agent
From April 2007 for 17 years, the day-to-day management of the facility was contracted out to YMCA St Paul’s Group (formerly known as YMCA London South West and previously Kingston & Wimbledon YMCA), resulting in a higher level of professionalism.
In 2025, following a competitive tender, the Trust awarded the operating contract for the next ten years to South Downs Leisure (SDL).
This does not mean, however, that Hampton Pool Trust has no ongoing job to do.
Trustees have a duty to monitor the management agreement, strive to improve the facilities and ensure that there are contingency plans for swimming at Hampton Pool to continue if the Management Agreement with South Downs Leisure is terminated.
Furthermore, the Trust remains the owner of the Hampton Pool facilities, the main swimming pool, the learner pool, the buildings and most of the equipment. The directors/trustees therefore have duties of ownership of these substantial assets.
Hampton Pool Trust also holds the licence to use the two-acre site. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Trustees are also the guardians of the unique and special ethos of Hampton Pool.
New reinforced concrete tub, 2004
Concrete for the base is pumped in, 2004
The new tank is re-tiled, 2004