2023 British Gymnastics Awards: Wye Gymnastics bag Inclusion Impact crown, Saltney’s Denise Bailey wins Volunteer of the Year

Following on from the Welsh Gymnastics National Awards at the beginning of the month, there has been even more reason for celebration within our community this week.

That’s because there has been some fantastic Welsh success as the winners of the 2023 British Gymnastics Awards have been announced virtually over the past two days.

Huge congratulations to 2019 Welsh Club of the Year Wye Gymnastics on winning the Inclusion Impact Award and also to Denise Bailey from Saltney Gymnastics Club – whose hard work and dedicated has been recognised with the Volunteer of the Year award.

Well done also to Neath Afan, who were highly commended in the Safe Sport category, and Matt Scott (Point Acrobatics Gymnastics Club), who made the final shortlist for Community Coach of the Year.

Throughout 2022, Wye Gymnastics had a positive impact on many underrepresented groups.

They delivered the British Gymnastics Foundation’s Love to Move programme at 10 venues, running 225 sessions, impacting 122 people.

They facilitated the delivery of gymnastics sessions exclusively to girls from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Their fit and fed holiday club was also a success, and provided free activity and a hot meal to those from deprived areas and low-income families during the school holidays.

Meanwhile Saltney club founder Denise’s 35 years of selfless dedication to gymnastics and supporting the local community have earned her a more than deserved Volunteer award.

Across four decades she has worked tirelessly to support and develop others in a variety of volunteer roles, alongside being a staff nurse at a local hospice.

At the club, her roles over the years have included Head Coach, Board member, mentor, Safeguarding Officer and judge.

Denise continues to support coaches and judges of all ages, mentoring many to achieve their formal qualifications.

Read more about all of the 2023 British Gymnastics Award winners on their website.