Future Developments
Discover what’s next for our charity.
Project overview
West Berkshire Therapy Centre is embarking on an exciting new chapter with plans to build a new facility: a combined power-assisted exercise gym, hydrotherapy pool and mixed-use activities room designed to expand and enhance our service offering. Building on years of experience supporting people with a wide range of health conditions, this ambitious development will provide a larger, more versatile space and reflects our commitment to improving health, independence, and quality of life across the local population. By offering more capacity, new therapeutic options and an enhanced user experience, our new facility will enable even more people to access the support they need, close to home and delivered with compassion.
At the heart of this centre of excellence is the desire to provide a wider range of equipment in a larger power-assisted gym facility, as well as a fully accessible hydrotherapy pool. Alongside these two main objectives, we are also looking to broaden our range of services. Thanks to our additional space in the form of a new activity room, we will be opening ourselves up into new opportunities such as different group activities (instructor-led groups such as yoga and seated exercise). A larger exercise area, changing facilities and a dedicated consultation space will help create a welcoming, dignified, and uplifting atmosphere for all.
Above: an artist’s rendition of the new building from Foxglove Way. Also, an artist’s rendition of the new building from the expanded car park.
Timescale
We are hopeful to have our new facility open to the public within three years. This is a service user-led project, and therefore the timeline is dependant on the level of support from our local community. A public consultation is due to happen soon, where further timelines will be discussed.
Once Planning Approval is granted, we will begin fundraising efforts to generate the £2milion+ needed to build and commission the service.
Above: a proposed floor plan of the new building. Also, a design exploration of the new building’s exterior.
Location
Our new facility will be located directly behind the The Frank Hutchings Community Hall (where we’re currently located), in the north-east of Thatcham.
Thatcham Town Council will lease the land to West Berkshire Therapy Centre at a peppercorn rent for a 99 year term. The playground currently occupying the space will be relocated to opposite the current one.
Car parking: an additional 18 parking spaces, including generous Blue Badge provision. Access to this new car park will be via the existing one at Bradley-Moore Square.
Above: our current location on a map. Also, a top-down view of the new building’s exterior layout showing the proposed landscaping, larger car park and relocated playground.
Why hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a highly beneficial treatment involving exercising in warm water (typically at about 35*C) where the warmth and buoyancy help to relax and strengthen muscles, increase circulation, ease pain and improve ability to carry out basic tasks of daily living such as climbing stairs, bathing and dressing, while maximising general mobility. Receiving advice or supervision from a physiotherapist can be particularly helpful in many instances.
Our pool will be accessible to all, sized to allow twelve adults to exercise under the supervision of our trained staff at the same time, and will also prove suitable for families or larger groups of youngsters.
Hydrotherapy is documented extensively as benefitting a wide range of conditions and ailments, including those affected by Parkinson’s, MS, stroke, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sight impairment, learning disabilities and others.
Above: AI-generated images showing the steps into a hydrotherapy pool, a group exercise class, an accessible toilet and a yoga class (non-AI).
Our impact on the community
There is considerable overlap between power-assisted exercise and hydrotherapy , not only in the types of user (and their related conditions) which will benefit, but also the operational efficiencies by having both facilities located under the same roof.
In conducting feasibility studies for both the hydrotherapy pool and the power-assisted exercise gym we visited many other similar facilities, held discussions with their management and spoke to their users. We identified many potential users, including:
Support groups. Demand from these groups will be high, including those affected by Parkinson’s, MS, stroke, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sight impairment, learning disabilities and more.
Hospital outpatients. This is usually a prime source of clients requiring, for instance, therapies to assist post-operative rehabilitation for replacement hips and knees, cardiovascular problems, etc.
Referrals from GPs. This is typically the biggest source of clients for a therapy centre. For instance, external referrals account for 1,100 clients a year at the Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool (Swindon) and their clients visit twelve times per year on average.
Self-referrals. These will be actively welcomed. Individual assessments of needs will ensure that therapy is provided safely, to achieve maximum personal well-being benefits.
Private clinics. Some private physiotherapy clinics will wish to hire the pool and/or gym for sessions for their own clients.
Special schools, units and centres. Many local special schools or units, either have or would like, their own pools and gyms. The alternative is to share a community pool. The major local education establishments, Newbury College and Kennet School, have expressed specific interest in the benefits our service can provide to their students.
Antenatal & Postnatal classes. In some areas of the country hydrotherapy is a popular option for these classes; especially to ease back pain.
Sports clubs. Several local clubs have expressed interest in evening pool hires.
‘Learning to swim’ classes. While warm-water pools are not suitable for most swimming classes, the elderly and new-born babies would benefit from our environment.
Mobility classes for the elderly and infirm. The use of both hydrotherapy and power-assisted exercise for the elderly and infirm is proving a great success and is popular, not the least because it also introduces a social element.
Frequently asked questions
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Our centre of excellence will be fully accessible, designed to be compliant with modern accessibility building standards .
Outside, the expanded car park will feature an additional 18 parking spaces, including generous Blue Badge provisions.
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We are very aware that construction can be potentially disruptive. Our existing gym will continue to operate next-door within the Frank Hutchings Hall. We are in the right place to act quickly to minimise potential disruption to our neighbours as well as to our clients.
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The existing gym is funded largely by voluntary donations from clients, with dedicated fundraising projects running alongside, allowing us to maintain our ‘free access to all’ ethic.
Funding for the hydrotherapy development project are held in a separate fund.
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We need as much support as we can get… more funding, more partners, more fundraising events, more local donations from the existing as well as new charity supporters. Once our public consultation is complete, we will need help with promotion, marketing and advocacy to reach as many people as we can.
All of the above will aid in making our project a success at the start and will continue to do so in supporting our local community.
Our collaborative partners
We are delighted to have support from a large number of local collaborative partners, including:
iB Architects
Mesh Energy
Penguin Pools
Nirvana Spa
Brian Finch (of Brian’s Pools)
Colin Gilah BSc, FRICS
Dr Deepak Ravindran
Numerous hydrotherapy pool operators across the UK
Upcoming public consultations
We have arranged two free drop-in events where you’ll be able to talk to the project team and ask questions, share your thoughts, and find out how this project will benefit local residents, community groups and those in need of the specialist facilities offered by having a hydrotherapy pool.
These events will be held on Wednesday 13th May and Monday 18th May, from 4pm until 8pm, at the Thatcham Town Council offices.
We’d love to hear what you think. Use this form to leave your suggestions, questions and concerns regarding our plans.
Alternatively, you can email us at feedback@westberkshiretherapycentre.org.uk.