Gymnastic studio revamp to benefit more students

Owners of a gymnastics academy say they can now welcome hundreds more students thanks to a £45,000 refurbishment of its training facility.

GymMad Gymnastics Academy in Stockton, received a grant from Enovert Community Trust (ECT), provided through the Landfill Communities Fund, to update its studio on Vickers Close.

The grant has provided the installation of a new extended floor area, new safety rig and new energy efficient lights.

Lyndsay Madden, head coach and facility manager at GymMad, said it means that an additional 200 children, from the age of two-years-old onwards, can now join its existing 500 members at the academy.

She said: "The new specialised gymnastics sprung floor, new lighting system and safety spotting rig means our facility is now the best equipped in the area for gymnastics, and we are very grateful for the difference this funding has made."

The new installations at GymMad, a not-for-profit social enterprise, located near Ingleby Barwick, will also mean an increase in classes it offers.

The academy is involved with the British Gymnastics Leadership Programme, which provides training opportunities for young people to become leaders, and has recruited 15 teenagers to the programme and aims to expand the scheme further.

Angela Haymonds, trust manager of Enovert Community Trust, said: "GymMad is such a popular, successful community club and the trustees were delighted to provide a grant to enable the club to offer even more opportunities for young people to be active and learn new skills."

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