Bramley Baths is a community-led, not-for-profit centre for fitness, health and fun, which houses a public gym, swimming pool and space for community events, meetings and fitness classes.
Investment of this level demonstrates belief and trust from social investors, (and in this instance our local community) which reinforces our mission and purpose and acts as a motivator to continue the work we do, in the way we do it - for the benefit of our community.
Our roof project is well underway, with repairs to the roof and the removal of our existing lanterns complete and the view of all works being completed by September 2025 (before the winter months and the potential of further adverse weather conditions.) The speed at which we have been able to mobilise this project is crucial and would not have been possible without this investment. Further delays to repairs, may have resulted in closures and disruption to our normal core service delivery.
The social value that we offer as an organisation could be monetised, but how do we truly put a value on people's quality of life and overall wellbeing?
We ensure that barriers to inclusion are dissolved when offering opportunities to positive lifestyle and life enhancing services. This investment has allowed us to continue to offer our core services with limited disruption and contributed to the overall preservation of a much-needed heritage asset.
Challenge
Bramley is home to multiple postcodes considered to be in the top 30% most deprived in the country (some in the top 10%).
These statistics highlight that the community of Bramley currently face health inequalities, potential social isolation and generally lack of access to vital services locally. Bramley is also situated in an area close to open water (Leeds Liverpool Canal) which has unfortunately seen fatalities in previous years.
Bramley has limited opportunities to engage with arts, culture and heritage which again puts residents at a disadvantage compared to more affluent areas of Leeds. As we know, access to such activities and provision can have positive outcomes when considering an individual’s sense of belonging and overall health and wellbeing.
The challenge is providing accessible, affordable health and wellbeing provision locally which addresses individual needs whilst providing an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and part of the community.
Solution
Bramley Baths has been a treasured asset in the local community for over 120 years. Their primary purpose is to benefit the local community by providing access to affordable health and wellbeing provision and in some cases tackling health inequalities and social isolation, plus they maintain and protect the last remaining Edwardian bathhouse in Leeds.
They welcome 3000 + visitors per week. This includes 15 local schools, over 1000 people accessing their services through their membership offer and by facilitating other organisations from marginalised communities.
In addition, they continue to provide access to affordable swimming lessons, lifesaving workshops, opportunities for employment and training for the local community, without them, these vital services would just not exist locally.
They are housed in a treasured heritage building, Grade II Listed, and in 2023 they were awarded a blue plaque from Leeds Civic Trust in recognition of their social and cultural significance.
The building is instantly recognisable, making up the visual skyline of Bramley and acting a physical representation of a bridge between the past and the future.
Their diverse financial toolkit raised a total of £383,960 through the following avenues:
Community Shares: £144,860
Booster Fund: £40,000
Cooperative Finance: £50,000
Energy Efficiency Grant: £39,100
Key Fund: £110,000
The purpose of the Community Share Offer was to raise essential funds in order to restore and repair the roof structure. Although the organisation has operated successfully as a social enterprise for 11 years, being housed in a heritage building can have its challenges.
Without significant investment there was the possibility that water ingress from the roof would affect the normal service delivery, thus effecting their overall income.
From a sustainability and environmental perspective, they are always looking for ways in which they can improve upon their energy efficiency. Whilst replacing the roof lanterns, they would ensure any replacements were not only in keeping with the original aesthetic of the building, but they would also be more energy efficient.
In terms of growth, they have plans to renovate one of their most underutilised spaces so they can introduce more arts, culture and heritage activities. This investment has allowed them to start this work by replacing and repairing the roof in this space.
Revenue
Bramley Baths generate revenue by selling goods and services to not for profit businesses, individuals and public sector bodies.
Services include swimming lessons, facilities memberships (including one off visits), events and space hire.
Impact
The money will, in the first instance, ensure that the roof is safe and secure for at least 40+ years ensuring the continuous full-service delivery.
In addition, the money received contributed to the success of their first community share offer, demonstrating not only the passion and power of community cohesion, but also the need for organisations such as Bramley Baths.
During assessing the financial investment request from Bramley Baths, it was a pleasure to meet and work with both Jennie Willets (BDM) and David Wilford (CEO). What quickly became apparent whilst working with Jennie and David was their clear understanding of the needs of their beneficiaries and how they use Bramley Baths to its full potential making the venue a valuable and much needed community hub. Not only have their immediate plans made their building more energy efficient, longer-term planning around further building improvements are underway to ensure Bramley Baths remains a financial and sustainable enterprise trading into the future.