A few years ago, the unassuming building in the middle of the Cannon Park industrial estate was still a derelict hydraulics firm.
But during the first Covid lockdown in 2020, all that changed.
James Trethowan, who started the Borocuda swimming school almost a decade ago, built his own pool.
With the help of family and colleagues, the disused unit was transformed into a bright and welcoming indoor 25m-long swimming pool.
“We used to hire pools around the area, but that was becoming more and more difficult as we just couldn’t find the space,” said James, 36.
“So we looked into building our own and found out it was actually do-able, and we went from there.”
The whole unit was stripped back, cleaned and refitted, ready for the 25m long pool to arrive.
“It was quite a job. Looking at it now, you couldn’t imagine it but there was a lot of work to be done, it was a hydraulics firm before so it was very dirty and the walls were covered in wires and other equipment.”
Now, the fully equipped pool hosts lessons and swimmers from the Borocuda’s swimming club B-TASC, a charitable organisation which trains swimmers to compete in local events.
The club was founded in 2018 after James recognised that many of the children coming through the school had potential to continue their journey and grow their love for the sport.
Head coach Dan Firbank, 22, oversees more than 80 club swimmers split into squads including a masters team and the region’s first recognised disability squad.
“It’s fantastic that we have a facility available here for our swimmers,” said Dan. “The club is really family focused and friendly. It helps nurture our members on their journey to becoming competitive swimmers.”
Borocuda’s club is part of The Middlesbrough Lottery, a community-focused lottery which lets players choose a local good cause to support when they buy their ticket.
The Lottery is a sustainable fundraising solution for good causes based in the town, and ran by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with lottery company Gatherwell.
More than sixty other causes including Middlesbrough Foodbank, Boro Angels, Friends of Fairy Dell and Kader FC have signed up and are receiving regular funding thanks to the lottery, which is on course to raise over £40,000 for its causes this year.
Half of the players’ ticket price goes straight to their chosen cause and 10% goes to funding cultural activities in Middlesbrough.
Find out more and sign up to play on the Middlesbrough Lottery website.
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