Welcome to Mactaggart Leisure Centre – Bowmore Islay

At Mactaggart Leisure Centre Islay, we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly service. We have made it our mission to provide reliable services in our customer-driven approach.

Our courteous, professional team is able to support a range of services to meet your requirements.

To learn more about Mactaggart Leisure Centre, and the services we can offer, please call us at 01496 810 767.

Scottish Charity No: SC015815

19^th June 2026

PRESS RELEASE

Big Boost for Islay as Mactaggart Leisure Centre Upgrades Get Started

New investment will enhance facilities, support sustainability and strengthen a much-loved hub for local communities and visitors.

Work begins on upgrading of Mactaggart Leisure Centre in Bowmore on the Isle of Islay. Plant and equipment have been ordered and tenders awarded to improve the appearance, quality & sustainability of this award-winning community owned & run business for the communities of Islay & Jura.

The Mactaggart Leisure Centre has started the first phase of upgrade works which includes the exterior decoration of the building, replacement of swimming pool motors, water pressure pumps together with purchase of automatic swim pool hoover, costume spin & hair dryers. This phase of project is being funded by a £40,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.  

Karen Donnelly, general manager of Islay & Jura Community Enterprises is excited that the project is starting to be rolled out She says: “It’s great to see the upgrading of this vital community facility moving closer to reality. We are extremely grateful for the funding FCC Communities Foundation has given us and we’re looking forward to showcasing the works when completed”

FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation manager says: “Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Grant Manager, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting the Mactaggart Leisure Centre with this project. It’s fantastic to see investment going into such an important community hub that brings people of all ages together. These improvements will make a real difference, enhancing the quality, sustainability and overall experience of the facility, and we are incredibly proud to play a part in securing its future for the communities of Islay and Jura.”

Media information:

For further press information please contact Karen Donnelly IJCE general manager at karen@mactaggartleisurecentre.co.uk  or 07483 331719

Notes to editors:

• Islay & Jura Community Enterprises Limited was formed in 1989 and is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It trades as Mactaggart Leisure Centre comprising of 25m swimming pool, gym, sauna, laundry & multi purpose room located in Bowmore village on the Isle of Islay. It has won four nationally recognised awards and provides a wide range of sporting, leisure, educational & social activities for everyone within  the local community & visitors alike. mactaggartleisurecentre.co.uk

• FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. Since 1998, FCC Communities Foundation has granted over £200m to more than 7,000 projects which benefit people living within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site. For more information please visit www.fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk

• FCC Environment is the leading UK waste and resource management company and is part of a global group with a strong heritage in providing services for communities and business. Its vision is to be the environmental company of choice, delivering change for a sustainable future. It employs 2,400 people and operates more than 200 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales. FCC Environment donates the landfill tax credits that are generated by its operations to FCC Communities Foundation, in order to add value to the environmental and social infrastructure of the communities around landfill sites. www.fccenvironment.co.uk

• The Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund – any waste that is discarded which cannot be reused, reprocessed or recycled may ultimately be disposed of in a landfill site. To encourage the re-use, recycle and recovery of more value from waste and use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal, Landfill Tax is charged on each tonne of waste sent to landfill. Landfill Operators (LOs) are able to redirect a small proportion of landfill tax liability to support a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). The LCF is regulated by ENTRUST on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs, and the projects are delivered by enrolled Environmental bodies (EBs). The SLCF is regulated by SEPA on behalf of Revenue Scotland and projects are delivered by Approved Bodies (ABs).

Volunteers Needed!

If you have some spare time and would like to give back to your community, then why not volunteer? We have a number of different fundraising events this year all around Islay. If you would like to help us out by running a stall, help running an event etc. then please get in touch!

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to help us out within the leisure centre, our Aquacare sessions need volunteers to keep them running.

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and socialise while you give back to the community. If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch and ask for more details.

Thank you for any support you can offer, remember, it’s YOUR leisure centre!