Gym displays

Melbourne Family Fun Day Sun 10th July

There will be NO GYM on Sat 20th August 2011

Summer Camp 2011

This will run from Tues 23rd - 26th August 2011.  Places go fast, so see Julie to reserve a place asap.

Newsletter July 2011

I want to tell you about our expansion plans, where we might be moving to and when we might be moving. 

We aim to move to an industrial unit in the Widford Industrial Estate.  The premises are about the same size as the sports hall at Dovedales.  There is room for spectators to sit and watch the gymnasts awhilst having a cup of tea or coffee and a snack.  There is adequate parking. 

The contract has yet to be signed as we are still negotiating terms.  There is some work that needs doing before we move in, and it is the job of the landlord to make these right.  As soon as the solicitors and planning office have agreed their part then we can move in.  I don't know when this might be, but I am hoping for Sept/Oct. 

One small sticking point is the amount of deposit that we have to give.  As a non-profit organisation we have never had a large turnover or deposit in the bank.  All our cash has bought equipment and coaching courses. this has enabled us to be one of the most effective gym clubs around, whilst still producing gymnasts of a very high quality, able to achieve excellent results at regional and county competitions and also to have gymnasts who stay with the club and sport for many years.  As I said above the sticking point to find the money for the deposit.  We have some of it but not all.  We need to raise £10,000 as quickly as we can.

We will be doing all sorts of fundraising to help gain this amount, including paying for the next 3 months gym fees by August, then you will get 3 months free.  Sponsored bounce, Sat 23rd and 30th July.  I am famous photographic event, 6th and 13th August and finally Buy a Brick for £10, which will be named so everyone can see you helped us move into our new home.  I would also like to thank everyone who sponsored me and Rebecca - we raised £1070.50.  I am always overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity towards the club, so i know we will achieve our goal which is to move into a dedicated permanent gymnastics facility. 

With thanks to you all, Julie Belemore.

Displays

Does your school have a summer fete?  Are they looking for something a little different to entertain the crowds? Talk to Michelle or Julie Davidson to see if our display team is free to appear at your schools event.

Fees

Following our recent change to a limited comany with charitable status, fees are now being arranged by monthly direct debit.  Letters have been issued on 31.1.10 detailing the monthly total payable for each gymnast.  Your support is greatly appreciated in arranging this - it means Julie can get back to coaching rather than sitting by the door collecting cheques!

Premises

 You may be aware, the gym club is planning to expand and move.  I am writing to let you know why, who we are, where we are, what we need to do and how are we going to do it.

 We are rapidly running out of training time and space.  We have a lot of gymnasts who would like to train for longer.  How much would they improve if they could spend at least half an hour a week on every piece of apparatus instead of 15 minutes every 3^rd week.  And the cost of this extra training wouldn't be prohibitive.  In fact it will be the same hourly rate as now. 

We cannot cater for boys, people with disabilities, young adults, cheerleading, sports acrobatics.  We are limited for pre school gym and have a waiting list of over a 100 for the main club. 

The new gym is planned to be one of the best in the country.  The gym equipment will be set out permanently and we are planning to have pits under the bars, so dismounts will be fun.  Landing in a pit filled with foam blocks is great fun.  Swinging up to handstand on the bars with a foam filled pit underneath becomes less scary and more enjoyable.

If you would like to look at pictures of other gym clubs in permanent facilities, please click on these links.  It gives you an idea of what our gym club could look like.

www.gymnasticsinipswich.co.uk/gii/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

 www.marriottsgymnastics.com/

 If you work for a corporate company that has a department for Corporate Social Responsibility Funding, then it would be really helpful if you could find out who is the person in charge, and also find out if they are interested in funding sport clubs, so I can write to them and apply for any funding that they might have.

If you work for a local company would they be interested in sponsoring us in return for advertising.

Do you own a local company and would you be interested in sponsoring us in return for some publicity?

Do you have a skill that we could use, either to get our project working or once it is up and running i.e. electrician, plumber, builder, solicitor, bricklayer, landscape gardener, painter, decorator, quantity surveyor, civil engineer, etc?  I am especially keen to make this a positive benefit not just to the gymnasts but also to their families and friends.  If work can go the way of Chelmsford Gym Club folk that can only be a good thing.

Have you had any experience in this type of project and are able to give us advice?

Do you have any skills that we could use for our fund raising activities i.e. hairdressing, face painting, reflexology, sailing, musician, rock climber etc.

Safety

Gymnasts must be dropped off in the sports hall at the start of their gym ssessions.  Girls must never be dropped off in the car park or at the entrance to the sports centre incase a gym session is ever cancelled.  Please also collect your daughters promply from the sports hall at the end of each gym session.

Dress Code

Gymnasts must arrive at their training session wearing club kit with their hair neatly tied back from their face.  This is very important for gymnastics, as loose hair falling in the face can be particularly dangerous for the gymnasts.  The squad should also ensure they have training shoes at each gym session, as running is usually part of their conditioning training.  In the current cold weather, please also make sure gymnasts have adequate clothing when arriving and leaving the sports hall.