Charity seeks funding boost for 'vital' centre

The centre links together three refurbished Victorian buildings

A Sheffield community charity hoping for a £2.6m funding boost has said the cash would help ensure it has a "bright future ahead".

The Zest Centre in Upperthorpe, which is run by the Netherthorpe and Upperthorpe Community Alliance, offers a pool, gym and library, as well as advice services and a cafe.

Sheffield City Council's finance committee is being asked to agree to financial support and a 30-year lease to the alliance.

Zest chief executive Matt Dean said the centre was a "vital resource for the local community and beyond".

The £2,685,000 capital investment sought over the next five years would pay for external and internal building works and repairs, replacement boilers, electrical, mechanical and heating upgrades, and repairs to the swimming pool tiling.

A report to the council committee said the boost would allow Zest to seek funding from other sources to further improve and protect the grade II listed building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It noted that the centre served a diverse community, playing a key role in helping to maintain residents' health.

The pool is used for children’s swimming lessons, as well as leisure swimming, and is adapted for users with disabilities.

An annual council contribution of £115,000 through the proposed lease would help the charity cope with inflation and the cost of paying staff the Real Living Wage, the report said.

Mr Dean said: "The buildings here, under various names, have been a community asset for more than 150 years.

"It remains a vital resource, particularly its swimming pool, so it's really important that we've got an opportunity to invest in the building and ensure it's got a bright future ahead.

"We cater for the specific needs of our diverse communities, and around 20% of our sessions are 'women only', we do specialist disability swim sessions, and we're known for being an accessible facility."

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