Support swells ahead of vital charity auction to save Dalton Leisure Centre

The centre is appealing for the public’s help to continue operating after revealing its whole infrastructure is in urgent need of repair.

It is the only non-profit community run leisure centre in the UK, and was built more than 35 years ago.

Phil Robinson, a member of Friends of Dalton Leisure Centre, has said that the support for their cause has grown considerably thanks to people sharing their story – as well as backing from local councillors and Barrow’s MP Simon Fell.

“It is all a bit crazy really,” he said.

“We are the only not-for-profit charitable leisure activity centre in the country; we don’t have financial backing from council or private firms.

“Sharon Tait organised our art auction which is launching on March 1 and we have had many art donations already.

“We have managed to secure more than 50 pieces of original artwork including works by the main artists from the Walking Dead, VIZ magazine, Beano, and work from Japan, Belgium and beyond.

ARTIST: Sharon Tait has donated some of her artwork to the fundraiser to help save Dalton Leisure Centre

“We will also be reaching back to our roots and offering a ‘buy a brick’ where any donations will see single names for £10 and family names for £35 added to a mosaic which will be on display permanently within the centre.”

The centre is aiming to raise £20,000 through this buy-a-brick campaign as well as auctioning off dozens of unique artwork from talented national and international artists.

“This has been taken up by a lot of people and, taking out political allegiance, Simon Fell, Ben Shirley and numerous other local councillors have been really supportive backing us,” Mr Robinson said.

“It is touching and humbling to see.

“Any fundraiser is after that pound from someone, and there are many worthwhile causes out there, but I think people have been taken up by this one as it is a real community asset that they now realise could be lost."