THE team behind a community-led leisure centre are ‘chuffed to bits’ to be nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.
Sporting Penistone, also known as Penistone Leisure Centre, was reopened in 2012 by the community after the council cut funding in 2011.
The group was nominated for being home to sport, community events and leisure pursuits.
Amanda James, trustee and treasurer of Sporting Penistone, said: “We are chuffed to bits and really excited to be nominated for the Proud of Barnsley award.
Even being one of the top three is definitely something to be proud of.
“We have so many volunteers and it’s good that we have the opportunity to let everyone know how important the volunteers are.”
There are seven trustees of the centre, all of whom are volunteers and all live close by.
Amanda explained that they wanted the leisure centre to reopen as it is the hub of the community.
She said: “It’s a really close-knit community and when the leisure centre shut down we all just rallied together to see what we could do to rectify the situation.
“We are not paid, we work full time but we are all passionate about seeing the centre succeed.”
The centre runs several activities including fitness classes, skating lessons and parties.
Amanda said: “Some of the activities we run at a loss but it’s necessary because some of the classes, although they might not have a great footfall, they are inclusive of groups who otherwise wouldn’t necessarily come the the leisure centre for example the disabled or the elderly.
“We want to make sure that we reach all the far corners of the community and we include a wide range of people.”
Sporting Penistone is currently looking at refurbishing the centre with plans including creating better toilets and changing facilities, a bigger kitchen and café, with viewing facilities for sports hall sessions.
Amanada said: “We always have the users at the forefront of all of our decisions and try to involve people as much as we can.”
