A mum-of-two has launched a fundraising campaign to refurbish Melbourn Sports Centre, which shut down unexpectedly in April.
The centre, which is in the grounds of Melbourn Village College, closed suddenly when owners Be Active Melbourn Ltd ceased trading and went into liquidation.
The college and the sports centre are overseen by the Cam Academy Trust, and the AstroTurf pitches have since reopened under the trust's management, but the pool and gym facilities remain closed.
She said: "Since April myself and nearly every parent I have spoken to have realised that we were extremely lucky to have a local facility supported by great swimming instructors, and other members of the centre that were highly dedicated to making it a wonderful place for not only have the children in the village and surrounding areas but also to the wider community to enjoy fitness at every level."
Sarah stressed the importance of having a sports centre in walking distance for people who are unable to drive, and said many have been "saddened by the loss of this much-loved facility".
She added: "The aim of the Cam Academy Trust is to set a price structure to ensure that bookings are affordable to you and the local community, but also viable for future generations to enjoy.
"They are also committed to manage and maintain this facility in a more regulated manner to safeguard its future.
"However, any help from the community to help fund some much needed refurbishments of the facility would be hugely appreciated."
Sarah has now launched a GoFundMe page, which is open for donations at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-our-sports-centre-back-up-and-running.
The £15,000 fundraising target would cover the cost of upgrading the swimming pool changing rooms, toilets and shower room.
Sarah has two children, aged eight and five, who attend Melbourn Primary School, and runs her own business as an independent beauty therapist based at ESSE in Melbourn.
She said: "We have been a part of the community for over eight years and have used all the local amenities and facilities including the sports centre - formerly known as McSplash.
"As a small businesses owner myself I know that relying on community support is huge."
When the sports centre closed down in April, Melbourn Cllr Susan van de Ven emphasised the importance of the centre to the community, citing the "thousands of people" who had learnt to swim at the pool over the years.
She also praised the "collaborative spirit" of Melbourn Village College, who worked alongside the Melbourn Dynamos to get the AstroTurf pitch installed.
An update on the Cam Academy Trust's website states: "In April 2024 we faced the shock and disappointment of the sudden liquidation of Be Active Melbourn Ltd, resulting in the immediate closure of Melbourn Sports Centre.
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"Following this the Cam Academy Trust has been working hard to reopen these valued community facilities as quickly as possible and in a sustainable manner.
"Following the closure the trust made the decision to bring forwards significant required work on the swimming pool.
"This work is currently expected to be finished towards the end of December. As the work impacts the fitness suite these facilities will also remain closed until then.
"In the meantime we have been able to open up the other facilities."
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