The Sheffield charity is seeking a funding boost to keep the center ‘vital’.

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

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

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

Zest chief executive Matt Dean said the center was a “vital resource for the local community and beyond”.

The £2,685,000 capital investment sought over the next five years will pay for external and internal building works and repairs, boiler replacements, electrical, mechanical and heating improvements and pool tiling repairs.

A report to the council’s 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.

He noted that the center 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 recreational swimming and is adapted for disabled users.

An annual council contribution of £115,000 through the proposed lease would help the charity meet 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 pool, so it is very important that we have the opportunity to invest in the building and ensure it has a bright future ahead of it.

“We cater for the specific needs of our diverse communities and around 20% of our sessions are ‘women only’, we do specialist swimming sessions for people with disabilities and we are known for being an accessible facility.”