Mid Argyll Community Pool (MACPool) in Lochgilphead urgently needs to hire several lifeguards to avoid having to close the facility more often than it is already.
Despite having just hired a new manager to start on November 6, MACPool said it will be forced to close from 3-4pm on weekdays from the middle of November due to “a lack of available staff to provide the required safety cover”.
These hours will be reinstated only when MACPool has recruited and trained some additional staff members.
MACPool has been closed on Fridays for several months due to staff shortages.
It said it has recently had only one part-time lifeguard available during weekdays.
MACPool is a social enterprise, owned and operated by Mid Argyll Community Enterprises Ltd (MACEL), and is a registered charity.
“We already cut Fridays,” said MACEL chairperson John Gurr.
“It is a bit of an emergency while we recruit – we have not been able to recruit enough people for the past six months.”
In an attempt to solve the crisis, MACPool is holding a recruitment afternoon on Sunday, November 12, from 1-4pm when the public can speak to staff about working at the pool.
MACPool said it had been looking for a new MACPool manager since September and it is delighted to have appointed Alida Achermann as the new manager, starting on November 6.
MACPool said Alida had worked as part of the management team at several different pool facilities across Scotland, “and will be a great addition as we recruit and train a new team”.
Alida said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of MACPool activity hub manager and cannot wait to begin working with the team and community to realise the facility’s full potential.
“As a keen open water swimmer and triathlete, I am an advocate for exercise, promoting both physical and mental wellbeing.
“I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the coming weeks, so please pop in and say hello.”
In a statement, MACPool said: “Like many businesses in Argyll, MACPool is facing staffing shortages and earlier on this year had to review its opening hours.
“We are now down to one part time lifeguard available during weekdays.
“We still have vacancies for part-time supervisors but despite a widespread advertising campaign we have had a very disappointing response.
“We have now reached a stage where staffing will impact our ability to open the pool on our current timetable.
“As a community-owned facility, we always strive to provide the best possible service with our limited resources.
“We want to ensure we protect the busy periods, weekends, early mornings, and swimming lessons.
“However, with a lack of available staff to provide the required safety cover; from the middle of November 2023, we are going to have to close the pool between 3pm and 4pm on weekday afternoons.
“This will be to be reinstated when we have recruited and trained some additional staff members.
“The café hours remain unchanged.
“MACPool is a charity run for the benefit of our community and we need your help. If you can swim, we can teach you to be a lifeguard.
“If you are looking for part-time work, day-time, early mornings, or afternoons, old or young, if you need some extra cash or would just like something to do, we would like to hear from you.”
Details of all vacancies and MACPool opening hours can be seen at
www.macpool.org.uk