Jump! Swim School Bundall shut abruptly and indefinitely on Monday leaving parents out of pocket

A popular Gold Coast swim school which was mysteriously closed has now reopened following a take-over.

• SHORTAGE OF STAFF ACROSS COAST INDUSTRIES
• A WARNING EVERY PARENT MUST READ

Gold Coast swim school that shut abruptly has reopened following days of confusion. 

JUMP! Swim School Bundall has opened its doors again to parents this week according to JUMP! Swim Schools CEO Mark Collins. 

The centre closed earlier this month after the franchisee walked out unexpectedly, leaving parents out of pocket.  

“We apologise for any confusion or distress that was caused over the past few days and thank parents for their patience and understanding as we worked through the unexpected event. No parents will be left out of pocket as a result of the six-day closure period,"  Mr Collins said. 

 “JUMP! Swim Schools head office has taken over at Bundall effective immediately and manager Angela Oliver, who has been with JUMP! Swim Schools for four years, will continue to manage the centre. Classes resume as per usual on Monday and we don’t anticipate any further disruptions to timetables.

 “We’re glad to be able to get the centre re-open in a matter of days as it’s an important time of year, with parents ensuring their children’s swim skills are at a safe level ahead of the summer school holidays."

EARLIER:

FAMILIES of a popular Gold Coast swim school have been left “shocked and confused” after being unexpectedly told that lessons had been “cancelled indefinitely”.

After running Saturday swim classes as normal, Jump! Swim Schools Bundall sent an email to families on Monday night advising them it was shutting up shop.

“I was there on Saturday with my daughter and there was no indication from anyone that it was closing,” said a parent, who did not want to be named.

“To be honest I’m a bit shocked and confused by the sudden announcement.”

Local father Chris Young also took his two-year-old son to his lesson on Saturday, deciding to prepay more than $200 worth of fees in advance.

Jump! Swim Schools Bundall sent an email to families announcing lessons were stopped indefinitely. Photo: Instagram

“Cashflow is king with small businesses and while there was no discount in doing so, I just thought during COVID it was a nice thing to do for the business in trying times,” he said.

“Another family started on Saturday, it just seems weird, they must have known on Saturday it would be closing on Monday.” Mr Young has since contacted his bank and had the money rescinded.

In an email sent to families on Monday evening, Jump! Swim Schools Bundall said that: “With immediate effect, lessons at Jump Swim Schools Bundall have been cancelled indefinitely. No debit will be made on the 1st December for lessons. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

A name was not attached to the message and phone calls and emails sent to the business have not been returned.

On November 27, a person named James posted an advertisement on Gumtree for a “learn to swim teacher for an immediate start”.

Inside Jump! Swim Schools Bundall. Photo: Instagram

“We are looking for qualified and experienced Learn to Swim Instructors who are looking for a rewarding and fulfilling role to join us at JUMP! Swim Schools Bundall to deliver lessons to infants, toddlers and young children,” says the advert.

Last year the Bulletin reported that Jump! Swim School was placed in voluntary administration after it become entangled in issues with leases, mounting debts and escalating legal action.

In July 2019, Belgravia Group, Australia’s largest leisure provider, stepped in at the last minute to save Jump! Swim Schools from liquidation.

Under the new agreement, the swim school brand become part of the Belgravia Kids portfolio, managed by chief executive Mark Collins.

Mr Collins told the Bulletin he had contacted families of the Bundall business to reassure them that the swim school was not shutting.

Hundreds of families have been left without swim classes as a Bundal swim school suddenly shuts. Photo: Supplied.

“The franchisee has decided to suddenly walk away, but as the franchisor we intend to take on the business as a company-owned store,” he said.

“We’ll be making arrangements this week and will let families know, and we will also be contacting staff. The plan is to put a manager in place and take over the business.”

He personally wrote an email to families “to clarify an email that went out last night from our franchisee who has decided suddenly that he no longer wishes to operate the business and that we were unaware of his actions until today”.

Mr Collins said Jumps! Swim Schools had weathered the COVID storm quite well and had actually grown by 25 per cent in the past year.

“When we took over things were in a pretty bad way, but we’ve opened five new swim schools (none in Qld) and expect to start up some more franchises from 2021.”

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