We understand that these are unprecedented and hugely challenging times for our gymnastics community – but we are here to support you in every way we can.
To do so, we will continue to regularly update this section that is dedicated to offering help and guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the sub-sections below, you will find more information about our Step Forward Plan as we prepare for the return of the sport, in line with Welsh Government guidelines. We have also developed a Step Forward Checklist in order for clubs to return.
During Phase 2, it is our responsibility to produce guidelines that ensure a safe return to the sport and therefore at this time all gymnasts and coaches will be required to social distance. Cleaning and hygiene measures communicated as part of the Step Forward Plan must also remain.
1. Anyone aged 11 and over must wear face coverings until they are taking part in exercise or strenuous activity. For exemptions please review the following https://gov.wales/face-coverings-guidance-public
2. Coaches must wear face coverings unless completing exercise or strenuous activity; it is particularly important to avoid wearing a mask whilst performing activities that will cause perspiration (exemptions above).
3. Anyone can play sport in a group of 15 people indoors (over 18), if this is part of an organised activity managed for example by a gym, a leisure centre or a sports club. Coaches and match officials would generally be regarded as participants and the 15 should include them. However, anybody who is there to organise or support the activity, if they are working or providing a voluntary service, can also attend and do not need to be considered within the limit of 15.
4. Simultaneous gatherings of groups and individuals are also allowed, both indoors and outdoors, where there is sufficient space to do so safely and independently. This should only be considered where space is sufficient to allow 100sqft per person as set out in UKactive guidance, where entry and exit for individuals and groups can be managed, and where the space can be partitioned so individuals and groups do not interact, without limiting the ability to allow appropriate ventilation and control environmental factors such as humidity in each space.
5. Unlimited numbers of children under the age of 18 can gather if the purpose is for the development or well-being of children and the number who can be involved is constrained only by the boundaries of the setting and the need for sufficient adults to be present to facilitate and supervise the activity. In practical terms, gatherings for those under 18 for sport are only limited by the number of adults who must be present (which cannot be more than 30 outdoors/15 indoors) and available space for safe physical distancing.
6. Clubs must continue to utilise existing coach to gymnast ratios.
7. Social distancing must be maintained at all times. For under 11's the guidance highlights that it is not always possible for the age group to rigidly social distance at all times, but it should be adhered to and all effort to do so where possible.
Our progress along the Step Forward Plan will be reviewed in line with the next Welsh Government announcement.
There is also some useful information around financial support and grants, resources available to clubs and coaches, FAQs (coming soon) as well as advice around well-being and mental health.
We hope you find this information useful and the team at Welsh Gymnastics are always here to help if you need to get in touch with us at contactus@welshgymnastics.org or development@welshgymnastics.org
The ‘Step Forward Plan’ is built around four key pillars of support; protection, people, places and programmes and will be delivered in phases designed around the Welsh Government restrictions currently in place.
It is important to note that the step one, two and three in each section refer to prepare, resume and rebuild. We will only move through the steps as Welsh Government inform us that it is safe to do so. It is still too early to say when steps two and three in the plan will happen, and we are concentrating on step one 'prepare' for now.
Step forward
Protection – everything we’re building to support a safe return to gymnastics – the protection and safety of all of our members is of paramount importance .
People – supporting the people who deliver gymnastics, run clubs and participate in our sport, including a focus on protecting the health and wellbeing of coaches, gymnasts and their families.
Places – providing specific guidance to facilities on how to introduce the new recommended safety measures. And supporting clubs in identifying and applying for available funding, fundraising and financial planning.
Programmes – guidance on how to adapt activity programmes and deliver gymnastics safely within the social distancing guidelines.
Highlights of the plan include:
You can read more about our Step Forward Plan in the attached document.
Guidance and resources for the Step Forward Plan will be released on a weekly basis, so please make sure that you check the Club Support Area.
Talk to a member of the Welsh Gymnastics team, we are here to listen and advise as best as possible in this constantly changing situation. Please also see below a list of Quick Links to websites that may prove useful to you for up to date advice and guidance.
|
Where to find more information or apply |
Funding Amount |
Sport Wales - Be Active Fund |
Protect - Grants of £300-£5,000 are available for emergency support. Prepare - Grants of £300-£50,000 are available to prepare your club or organisation. You will need to make a 15% contribution for grants over £5,000, which could be from the club's own funds, or grants from elsewhere. |
|
Local Authority Non Domestic Rates(NDR) grant |
https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/support/financial-support-and-grants
|
Grant 1: A grant of £25,000 is being made available for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses occupying properties with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000. Grant 2: A £10,000 grant to all businesses eligible for small business rates relief (SBRR) in Wales with a rateable value of £12,000 or less. |
Welsh Government accessed through local authorities |
https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/start-grant-–-support-welsh-businesses |
To be eligible for the ‘Start Up Grant’ of £2,500 businesses must:
The Start Up Grant will be administered by local authorities and accessed through the Economic Resilience Fund eligibility checker on the Business Wales website: https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/. |
Local Authority Economic Resilience |
https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/support/financial-support-and-grants
|
£10000 for micro businesses £100000 for SME’s £690000 for large businesses The Fund is open to applications until 10 July 2020 (or until the fund is fully committed). |
WCVA Third Sector Resilience |
https://wcva.cymru/funding/social-investment-cymru/third-sector-resilience-fund-for-wales/
|
Up to £75,000 |
WCVA Voluntary Sector Emergency fund |
https://wcva.cymru/funding/volunteering-wales-grants-scheme/
|
Between £10,000 – £100,000 |
Just Giving 2.6 Challenge UK / Individual club page |
|
ANY |
Easy Fundraising Club fundraising page |
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
|
ANY |
Sport Wales Emergency Relief Fund |
https://www.sport.wales/content-vault/emergency-relief-fund/
|
Up to £5,000 |
UK Government Job Retention Scheme |
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#how-to-claim
|
Claim for 80% of your employee’s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions. The scheme will close to new entrants from the 10th June. https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/job-retention-scheme-calculator/?_ga=2.179617389.819917206.1587229939-1716842865.1587229939 |
UK Government Statutory Sick Pay Support |
https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/how-to-claim
|
Cover up to two weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of COVID-19 |
UK Government Self Employed Income Support Scheme |
|
80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. To claim the first grant. you must make your claim on or before 13 July 2020. You’ll be able to make a claim for a second and final grant in August 2020. |
Awards for All Voluntary & community organisations |
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/under10k
|
Up to £10,000 |
Charities Fund |
|
Funding Amount |
Awards for All Voluntary & community organisations |
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/under10k
|
Up to £10,000 |
Moondance Covid 19 support for charities |
https://www.moondancecovid19relieffund.com/
|
Organisation type dependant. Need to fill out an application online to find out how much your eligible for. |
Waterloo Foundation Caring, Educating Wales |
http://www.waterloofoundation.org.uk/ WalesAboutTheProgramme.html
|
Between £5,000 - £25,000 |
Simon Gibson Trust Supports Glamorganshire, Gwent, Powys and Carmarthenshire in Wales |
https://www.sgctrust.org.uk/eligibility/
|
Organisation type dependant. Need to fill out an application online to find out how much your eligible for. |
Community Aid Foundation Support charities |
Up to £10000 |
|
Community Foundation Wales Third sector |
https://communityfoundationwales.org.uk/grants/wales-coronavirus-resilience-fund/
|
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for groups with an annual income of up to £200,000. Grants of up to £10,000 are available for groups with an annual income of between £200,001 and £500,000 |
Loans |
|
Funding Amount |
British Business Bank Business Interruption Loan |
Based on annual turnover of the company. Up to £5million in value. |
|
Government and Business Bank Future Fund Loan |
https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/apply-coronavirus-future-fund |
Between £125,000 to £5 million |
Business Wales Bounce Back Loan |
https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-support-businesses#section-38225 |
Up to £50,000 |
Business Wales Small business loan |
From £1,000 to £50,000 |
|
WCVA Emergency Fast Track Loans |
https://wcva.cymru/emergency-fast-track-loans/ |
Based on each applicant’s individual needs in terms of amount, term and repayment profile. |
Looking for our Gymnastics Home Activities? You have come the right place!
The team at Welsh Gymnastics want to ensure the Welsh Gymnastics community have access to a range of fun filled gymnastics and gymnastics themed activities.
In addition to the British Gymnastics resources, accessed through your Club Log In, Welsh Gymnastics have an array of downloadable resources and live sessions on offer; many of which are bilingual.
Share your work with Welsh Gymnastics via the Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts with the #KeepYourPassion and you could be featured on our page.
Activity Cards
Books
The Greatest Gymnast of All https://youtu.be/wNR5Nks684g Read by Sydney Davies
Downloadable Activities, Games & Puzzles
Healthy Eating Recipes
LIVE Sessions & Discipline Masterclasses
A number of discipline specific online sessions took place through the Summer of 2020 for members of the Welsh Gymnastics community. These sessions can be viewed at our You Tube page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hWs65FyddgaF1fflrDcvA/featured.
Keep a look out for more LIVE sessions available soon.
Sport Leader Online Sessions
A number of online sessions ran through the Summer of 2020 for Welsh Gymnastics affiliated Sport Leaders. Lead by a Welsh Gymnastics Tutor, sessions were based on a variety of topics; each previously requested by the community. The sessions were a great opportunity for leaders to learn new skills and engage with others from across Wales. Session information can be downloaded here.
Online Workouts
Session Plans
Warm Up & Cool Down Activity Cards
Workout Cards
Club Covid-19 Officer
As part of the Welsh Government return to sport and leisure guidance, organisations and clubs have been asked to nominate a Covid Officer.
The Covid Officer will be a key resource for clubs in all matters of Covid-19 and ensuring a safe environment for gymnastics activity. They will promote clear and effective communication channels to ensure all members feel supported and have someone to go to should they have any questions or concerns.
Welsh Gymnastics Covid Officer is Siwan Davies (Head of Development)
The responsibilities will include:
Covid Officer - Job Description
Training
Forums
This section aims to support the people who deliver gymnastics, run clubs and participate in our sport, including a focus on protecting the health and wellbeing of coaches, gymnasts and their families.
Covid-19 Online Awareness Course for the Sports and Recreation Sector
The web-based course aims to give confidence on Covid-19 matters and provides transitional information to support the return to sport and recreation across the home nations.
To book the online course please click here
For all British Gymnastics webinars please enrol via https://www.british-gymnastics.org/courses/search/club-roles
Coach Support
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness Webinar
https://www.welshgymnastics.org/courses/2020/08/26/introduction-to-mental-health-awareness-webinar/
Good Governance: Policies & Procedures Webinar
This webinar will provide an insight into the policies and procedures that each club should have in place to adhere to. It will look at what policies British Gymnastics has, and what policies clubs should have. Following guidance on how to enforce policies, some scenario-based examples will illustrate how to embed good governance into club operations. This webinar is an opportunity for clubs to review their policies and procedures and refresh these documents ready for a safe return to gymnastics.
Inclusion
This one hour webinar is designed to increase your knowledge of inclusive gymnastics & terminology around inclusion as well as helping you build an awareness of how to create an inclusive club environment.
Health and Safety: Reopening your facility safely in partnership with Agility UK
This webinar will give clubs a better understanding of what is needed to be considered with regards to general health and safety within your premises or activity area, following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Following the completion of the club support webinars, a recording will be placed on the BG Club Support page.
Pre-Recorded- Requires an account to login
Delivering Great Coaching Online
Pre-recorded
https://www.sportstructures.com/education-training/book-onto-a-course/club-solutions-workshops/
Various Webinars https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/events/catchacoffee
69 free instruction videos on a broad range of topics covered within and beyond sport and exercise science. Topics include but not limited to: Muscle contractile properties, energy systems, skeletal systems, mental health, diet and nutrition, emotional intelligence, coaching philosophy in sport, social media in sport, confidence. https://www.bettersportscoach.com/videos/free
Free Sport and fitness courses https://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/free-courses/?filter=date/grid/562/all/all/all/
Resources for coaches, parents and young people- https://www.youthsporttrust.org/coronavirus-response-and-support
Club Solutions are providing online two hour workshops. The short training sessions will seek to improve your knowledge, build your skills and ultimately help you to develop your club. Click on the headings below for more information
How to build a Volunteer family
How to keep your members happy
How to manage your clubs money
How to get your club into shape
Following Welsh Government guidance on the return to training for our elite athletes, our Performance team are developing a very specific Elite Plan in partnership with British Gymnastics. This will be communicated directly to the athletes and their coaches. Only gymnasts identified by Sport Wales as elite may be given exemptions during local lock downs.
Please find the current list of event postponements or cancellations until December 2020 below.
Men’s Artistic
Welsh Regional Grades (12/09/20) – Event cancelled
Northern Europeans (02/10/20) – Re-scheduled for Autumn 2021.
Dragon Cup (13/12/20) – The Technical Panel are looking at the potential for this to be repurposed to another competitive event. Details to follow.
Women’s Artistic
Voluntary Levels (26/09/20) – Event cancelled
Challenge Cup (26/09/20) – Event cancelled
Northern Europeans (02/10/20) – Re-scheduled for Autumn 2021
Teams Competition (10/10/20) – Event cancelled
Level 5/6 Finals (01/11/20) – Finals event cancelled. However, areas may be able to hold an area event if safe and appropriate to do so before the end of 2020. These events will be under strict WG guidance and sign-off.
Rhythmic
Welsh Group Invitational (18/10/20) – Event cancelled. However, the date will potentially be used to hold the Star Cup, if safe and appropriate to do so.
Star Cup (12/12/20) – Provisional new date 18/10/20
Welsh Open for individuals (12/12/20) – The Technical Panel will aim to run this one-event dependent on restrictions and if safe and appropriate to do so.
Trampoline
Trampoline Schools (22/11/20 – Potentially postponed to early 2021 dependent of BSGA qualification event schedule.
Welsh Open Championships (05 & 06/12/20) – Event cancelled
Acrobatics
FIG Championships (11/10/20) – Event cancelled
Aerobics
Cardiff Open / Welsh Open Championships (10/10/20) – Event cancelled
Newport IAC (06/12/20) – The Technical Panel are looking at the potential for this to be repurposed to another competitive event. Details to follow.
Tumbling
Welsh Championships (19/09/20) – Event cancelled
Tumble League (13/12/20) – The Technical Panel are looking at the potential for this to be repurposed to another competitive event. Details to follow.
GFA
South Central Gymspire (31/10/20) – Event cancelled
South East Gymspire (31/10/20) – Event cancelled
West Gymspire (07/11/20) – Event cancelled
North Gymspire (07/11/20) – Event cancelled
Gymspire National (20/11/20) – Event cancelled
Schools
Novice Final (03/12/20) – Event cancelled
WG will liaise with the regional school coordinators to determine whether they are able to hold an area event before the end of 2020. These events will only be considered if safe and appropriate to do so and be under strict WG guidance and sign-off.
We understand and share the disappointment of all the gymnasts, coaches and clubs that would have been involved but the health and wellbeing of our members is our main concern.
We would also like to take this opportunity to make our community aware that we are continuing to work with British Gymnastics, the Technical Panels and our Performance teams to look at options for each discipline for reviving their competition programmes later in the year. We will make further announcements about these plans in due course.
These are unprecedented times for us as a society and whether you are self-employed or a business owner, gymnasts or parent COVID-19 will be causing a level of uncertainty. However, now more than ever, we should take steps to take care of our mental health and those of our employees.
There is a wealth of support available to you online:
DAS Law operate a free 24-7 counselling helpline for all members over 18. Any information shared will remain strictly confidential between DAS Law and the member.
0117 934 2121
The NHS lists five simple things we can all do to give our wellbeing a boost.
The Five ways to wellbeing are a set of evidence-based messages aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole population. They were developed by the New Economics Foundation from evidence gathered in the Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing project (2008).
The five ways are:
C.A.L.L offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Telephone: 0800 132 737
Samaritans offer a plethora of help and support via their call centre and email provisions.
Telephone: 116 123
Telephone Welsh Language service: 0808 164 0123
E-mail: jo@samaritans.org
Write a letter:
Chris
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
PO Box 9090
STIRLINGFK8 2SA
Rethink mental illness: https://www.rethink.org
Every mind matters: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters
Young minds: https://youngminds.org.uk
Setting goals with young people: https://7mindsets.com/smart-goal-setting-for-students/
Mindfulness: https://www.mindfulfamilies.co.uk/
Meditation: https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/
https://www.headspace.com/meditation-101/what-is-meditation
https://www.headspace.com/meditation/sport
Welsh Gymnastics encourage our community to follow our safety reminders while keeping active for gymnastics at home.
We want you and your gymnasts to be protected whilst interacting from home, so it’s important to remember the following:
The Key points are:
We hope that you are able stay connected with your participants during this difficult time and are able to continue playing your part in encouraging the importance of exercise on their physical and mental well-being.