Anonymous £17k donation helps save therapy pool

A hydrotherapy pool that was at risk of closing can now be fully refurbished - thanks to an anonymous donation of £17,000.

Compass Wellbeing in Taunton - the only public pool of its kind in the town - faced closure if it could not find £35,000 to make essential repairs, such as replacing a faulty hoist, broken dehumidifier and a leaking roof.

Once that amount was exceeded, the target was raised to £70,000 to cover a full refit, which has been met thanks to the gift from a single anonymous donor.

Michelle Edwards, general manager at Compass Wellbeing, said: "It just shows how much value people place on the pool and the extent they are willing to go to to help us, which is amazing."

Sheila Evans regularly takes her 23-year-old daughter Becky to the pool.

Becky has Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy and scoliosis and swimming helps to straighten Becky's spine and prevent the development of arthritis.

"Keeping her moving like this is pain relief without actually having to medicate, which is absolute bliss for Becky," her mum said.

The refit will include the installation of a sensory ceiling, hydraulic bed and a ceiling hoist.

Sheila Evans said the sensory ceiling would be a "brilliant" addition.

"We do a big old play session in the pool and then we do a wind down at the end to get her chilled and relaxed and she does that on her back so it will be incredible to have something on the ceiling," she said.

The identity of the person who donated £17,000 has not been revealed but Edwards said she would love to thank them.

She said the fundraising response had been "absolutely phenomenal".

"We call it play [in the pool], but it's not," she said.

"It's a life - it's a life they're saving."

The pool will be closed for seven weeks from 20 July to allow for work to be completed.

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