Formed in 1994 as a community group to fight the threatened closure of the Pool, "The Friends" is now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC 042966) which works in close partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. While the Council operates the pool, the Friends maintain, enhance and promote the Pool.

Maintaining, enhancing and promoting the Pool requires considerable funds; But the Friends do much more than fundraise - to keep the Pool looking its best each season and to ensure its long-term future takes a lot of voluntary work of different kinds.

Work to maintain and enhance the Pool is carried out all year round. During the season, Friends help to maintain the gardens, host our live music and children's entertainers, welcome visitors to the pool and promote the sale of pool merchandise at our events. After the Pool closes they work with the Council to plan maintainance, helping to identify any major repairs and "put the Pool to bed", carrying out any repairs which can be done before winter. After New Year, the real push starts to get the Pool ready and looking its best for the May opening and volunteers are always needed to help with power washing, painting, pre-season cleaning and just about anything that needs doing.

Fundraising activities are also year-round and include car boot sales and coffee mornings as well as following up potential corporate sponsorship. If your company might like to support the Pool please contact sponsorship@stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk. It is thanks to the Friends that a new, safe, warm-water paddling pool was constructed within the Pool buildings and opened in 2009.

Behind the scenes, there is also year-round work to promote the Pool online, in print and to respond to requests for information and photos from the media. Contact PR@stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk if you are a journalist or bona fide media representative who needs information and/or photographs.

If you would like to help - whether with the hands-on physical work (which is great fun and a good way to meet new people and make new friends) or behind the scenes please get in touch via email friends@stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk.