How a hydrotherapy pool gives Becky the chance to hug her mum

Becky using the refurbished hydrotherapy pool

The hydrotherapy pool at Compass Wellbeing in Taunton has been a lifeline for people with additional needs in Somerset for over 10 years.

The facilities have given people living with disabilities, people who are autistic or neurodivergent, and their families and carers a place to ease pain, build strength and move freely.

But a decade of use had taken its toll, and the pool needed several key updates. A £27,000 grant from our Discovery Community Fund contributed towards a full refurbishment. Today, the pool is brighter, safer and more welcoming than ever.

A pool that wouldn’t have lasted another winter

We spoke to Michelle Edwards, Centre Manager at Compass Wellbeing, who explains why the work couldn’t wait.

“The pool would not have lasted another winter,” says Michelle. “We had leaks in the roof and problems with our dehumidifying equipment, so we couldn’t maintain the air and water quality.

“The new space includes an open-plan changing area with curtains and room for large wheelchairs, a new hoist that can move anywhere within the space, a portable shower bed and a sensory lighting ceiling above the pool.”

The updates have made the space more efficient, freeing up enough time to add an extra session every day. There are now around 30 sessions a week, and 23 are booked for regular use.

The only place Becky can give her mum a hug

The benefits of using the hydrotherapy pool go far beyond the physical.

Becky is a young woman living with Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy. She uses a wheelchair full time and is developing arthritis in her spine. The water is the only place she can stretch out completely.

“It’s the only place that allows her to give her mum a hug,” says Michelle. “Her mum can’t lift her, but in the water, Becky is buoyant enough to give her mum a hug. The emotional wellbeing that comes from having that opportunity, for Becky and her mum, is incredible.”

Regular sessions bring the biggest benefits. Another young woman arrived for her first sessions in a wheelchair. Now she can walk from the car park to the pool and back.

“It makes her feel so much more independent and so much more in control,” says Michelle. “Her mental wellbeing has hugely benefited too.”

“Everyone deserves the very basics of being able to learn to swim, or at least improve their confidence in the water,” she says. “For people who can’t go to a gym, go for a run or even go for a walk, this provides them with the opportunity to do the things many of us take for granted.”

Want to help more people live well in Somerset? Learn more about our Somerset Wellbeing Fund.