The Sports Trust is working to reopen the swimming and health facilities at the Folkestone Sports Centre in Kent by July 2026, following a significant funding boost. The centre has been closed since July 2024, when the previous operator, the Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, entered administration after struggling with rising costs.
In March 2026, the Folkestone and Hythe District Council approved a £2.4 million grant to support the facility. This funding is dedicated to essential repairs, including work on the roof, solar panel installation, and a full overhaul of the swimming pool and changing rooms. The reopening efforts follow a campaign that saw approximately 9,000 residents, schools, and local clubs sign a petition to save the community pool.
The Sports Trust, which purchased the site in May 2025 with backing from the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, has already carried out preliminary survey work. Additional support for pool infrastructure and pump upgrades has been provided by Sport England.
While the path to a summer reopening is underway, The Sports Trust has noted that the project remains subject to securing further funding to complete all necessary works. The trust continues to review options for other parts of the site, such as the sports hall, gym, and ski slope.
The closure of the centre has been felt across the community, as residents have been forced to travel to Ashford or Dover to swim. Callie-Ann Warrington, a Paralympic silver medalist who supported the campaign to save the pool, highlighted the importance of the centre for the community, noting that such facilities allow people of different backgrounds and abilities to connect through swimming.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
