Sheffield based clubs are now working hard together with Sheffield City Trust to ensure that they can return to train at Ponds Forge in the not too distant future.

Sheffield City Council’s cabinet met last week and agreed to fund up to £1.6 million to Sheffield City Trust, which manages the iconic venue, allowing it to open for the first time since it was closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision has been welcomed by the swimming, diving and water polo clubs that are based at Ponds Forge who lobbied hard and gained public support for this to happen.

Nikki Smith, Diving Manager for City of Sheffield Diving Club, who played a key role in the campaign to open Ponds Forge said, “It means everything, we’re absolutely thrilled. Hopefully, this is going to mean that all our members can start training properly again whether it’s just for fun or whether they’re on a programme.”

The Sheffield based diving, water polo and swimming clubs all worked together with other partners to make the reopening possible.

Nikki added, “All of us use the facilities a lot, so we’ve worked together because we felt that we were stronger together. We’re absolutely ecstatic at the support we’ve had,”

Well done to all those who helped have achieved this positive news.