New pool pod for Stoke Mandeville Stadium from Freemasons
A delegation from the Buckinghamshire Province, led by the head of Buckinghamshire Freemasony, Tim Anders, visited Stoke Mandeville Stadium to formally inspect a brand-new Pool Pod submersible lift.
The visit marked the successful deployment of a major charitable grant co-funded by Buckinghamshire Freemasons and the Freemasons Charity (formerly the MCF). This critical piece of accessibility infrastructure ensures that over 2,000 wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility can access the swimming pool with full independence and dignity each year.
The primary purpose of the visit was a live technical demonstration of the state-of-the-art Pool Pod lift. Unlike institutional hoists which require manual handling by poolside staff—often causing delays or feeling overly clinical—the Pool Pod is a modern submersible platform. That descends smoothly from the poolside down to the pool floor level in under 20 seconds. It accommodates swimmers who choose to stand, as well as those utilizing a specialized pool-bound wheelchair and allows swimmers to operate the submersible lift entirely on their own, removing the psychological barrier of asking for assistance.
The purchase and installation of the Pool Pod represents the core masonic principle of relief in action, funded through a dual-layered approach combining local and national masonic assets. The local portion of the grant was allocated directly via donations from individual Lodges across the Province. The local donation was amplified by a grant from the Freemasons Charity, one of the largest grant-making charities in the United Kingdom. The joint funding for WheelPower highlights how the Freemasons Charity seamlessly partners with local Provinces to fast-track critical funding when regional emergency infrastructure needs - like the failure of a disability lift - arise.
Martin McElhatton, chief executive of WheelPower, expressed immense gratitude for the new Pool Pod, noting its critical role in facilitating accessible recreation and rehabilitation.
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