Behind the Scenes: October ‘25
October is one of those ‘shift’ months in the year, when change happens a little more obviously than at other times: darker evenings, busier indoor spaces, and a sense of preparation as winter approaches. At Atlantis, change has certainly been on the agenda, with essential training, repairs, new staff stepping in, and one of the biggest nights in the school calendar. Here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes at your community-run, charity leisure centre this month.
Community Programme - ‘making a splash’
We started last month with one of our favourite bits of annual training: canoe rescue practice. Before Oban Canoe Club returns to the pool for their winter training programme, our staff spend time learning and refreshing the specialist techniques needed to keep paddlers safe. It’s a very different type of rescue from our usual pool work, involving capsizes, controlled flips, and plenty of problem- solving in the water. For newer staff, it’s a chance to build confidence and learn something completely fresh. For those who’ve done it before, it’s a valuable reminder of how to react quickly, calmly and safely when the unexpected happens.
What always makes it special, though, is the atmosphere. These sessions are noisy, splashy, full of teamwork and usually a fair bit of laughter. They’re a brilliant reminder that special partnerships like this are at the core of what Atlantis does - groups like the Canoe Club rely on us for different aspects of their annual programme, just as we rely on them and so many others to keep this place thriving. Working together is what makes Atlantis possible, especially in a rural community like ours.
Centre Life -‘know your building’
It’s been another busy month behind the scenes as we continue to look after the building from top to bottom. In the gym, a brand new mirror has been installed, giving the space a cleaner, brighter feel and restoring full functionality for our users. Our biomass system also received important attention, with new fire bricks fitted to improve insulation and boost overall efficiency as we move into the colder months. And over in the pool hall, our team carried out a full flush of the gutter drains - a routine but essential part of keeping the pool’s circulation and filtration systems working smoothly. Each of these jobs may seem small on their own, but together they form part of the ongoing stewardship that keeps Atlantis running safely, efficiently and ready for everything the community requires of it.
Staff News - ‘the team behind the action’
This month we welcomed two new leisure attendants to the team: Lucy Morrison and Alice Thorn. Lucy recently qualified as a Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification swimming teacher, while Alice has already been teaching swimming with us for over a year. We’re delighted to officially have them both on the leisure team - their enthusiasm and experience are a brilliant addition to Atlantis. Welcome both!
Pool Closure - ‘a necessary pause’
Just a quick reminder that our pool will be taking a short, planned break from 1st December, reopening on 3rd January, so we can carry out some essential maintenance. Maintenance like this is inevitable for any busy pool - and especially for one that serves as many schools, clubs, families and community groups as ours. To keep the water safe, the systems efficient and the space welcoming for the long term, some jobs simply can’t be done while the pool is full and operating. It’s worth flagging just how significant a process this is: it takes almost a full week to drain the pool alone, and just as long to refill and bring the water back up to the right temperature and quality. Once it’s empty, our team and contractors are able to access areas that are otherwise completely unreachable - tiles, grout lines, expansion joints, underwater outlets and inlets, plant and pipework that all quietly work in the background to keep the pool running day after day.
These closures are never taken lightly, but they’re a crucial part of caring for Atlantis properly. As a community-run centre, stewardship is at the heart of what we do, and this period of downtime allows us to protect and preserve a facility that so many rely on. The rest of the building will operate as normal. We really appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while we carry out this important work. The pool will be back in January - refreshed, safe and ready for another busy year of swimming, learning and community life.
Lock-In 2025 - ‘one night in a lifetime’
This October we teamed up once again with Hope2Oban (H2O) to host The Lock-In - an overnight event for Oban High School’s S1 pupils, designed to help them settle into secondary school with confidence. It’s a real annual diary entry this one, with S1 year groups taking part for over 20 years now! H2O, a local youthwork charity supporting young people and families across Oban and North Lorn, leads the programme, bringing volunteers, S6 mentors and community partners together for a night of games, sport, creativity and connection – and by ‘night’ we really mean it: things kick off at 9pm on the Friday and some snoozy looking youngsters then emerge from the Centre at 7am the next morning! With 134 pupils taking part this year, it remains one of the most meaningful ways our community supports young people as they take their first steps into high school. This year’s fantastic S6 helpers had missed their own Lock-in back in 2020 due to COVID, so it was especially meaningful to give them the chance to experience it - even if it arrived five years late. The atmosphere was incredible, and as always, the young people brought energy, laughter, and resilience right through to sunrise.