Free pickleball sessions every Friday for residents from Sheffield's S5 postcode where sport is hard to access
Free sessions will run every Friday morning
Sheffield Pickleball Club has been awarded a grant from the Olympic Legacy Park fund to hold free weekly pickleball sessions at Concord Sports Centre for S5 residents.
Free sessions will run every Friday morning from 11am – 12.30pm for 20 weeks starting from October 9.
All equipment is provided - all participants need to bring is loose, comfortable clothing and a pair of indoor-use trainers.
The club is launching this initiative to coincide with World Pickleball Day on October 10.
Anyone who would like to participate at Concord can just turn up on the day or can book their place in advance by downloading the Spond app (use code JLWGF) and searching for the session by date and venue.
It comes as Sheffield has taken the lead as the UK city with the most pickleball courts, with fans hailing it as the country’s fastest growing sport.
Sheffield Pickleball Club began just under two years ago at predominantly indoor sports halls using badminton courts.
The volunteer-run club champions the need for equitable access to sport for people who have disabilities or physical and mental health issues.
The club says the grant was aimed at the S5 postcode, covering areas like Parson Cross, Shiregreen and Fir Vale, because the region struggles with barriers to participating in regular group activities, including cost, transport and a ‘lack of confidence’.
Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council said: “Sheffield Pickleball Club are promoting the take up of the sport across the city by providing free training sessions to new players at a range of venues.
“Pickleball is very accessible, suited to all ages and abilities, and the training provided by the club is really valuable in engaging local people with a new sport.
“The club delivered training at my local park and have provided equipment so that the learners can pass on their skills. I was delighted to take part in a session led by some of the learners in Burngreave recently, demonstrating that the value of the training reaches beyond the Club-delivered training”.
Sheffield Pickleball Club is now one of the biggest in the country running 37 weekly pickleball sessions at 22 venues across the city, run by 45 volunteers.