Bangor Gymnastics Club was joined by former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle to celebrate the opening of its new facility at Llandygai after two years of fundraising.
The club, which was founded in 1981 with just 20 members, but now has more than 800 gymnasts on its books. It has been carrying out various fundraising events such as race nights and holiday camps and raised over £25,000 to fund the facility and equipment. The club also won grants from a number of organisations such as Magnox, Millennium Stadium Trust and Sport Wales, to name a few.
Bangor Gymnastics Club was also awarded a Gold insport award last month. It is a top disability award given to the club for its inclusive, quality sessions for disabled people within its community and is the only sporting club in Gwynedd to have achieved this standard.
Bangor Gymnastics Club converted to a social enterprise two years ago to ensure that the club is run effectively as a business and to ensure a sustainable future for the club. It has a workforce of more than 60 volunteers, coaches, young leaders, administrators and directors.
Mair Eluned, Director at Bangor Gymnastics Club, said: “We are over the moon to finally be moving into this new facility. We have spent many happy years based at Canolfan Brailsford but to extend our membership and offer more classes we needed our own facility.
“The fundraising effort by our gymnasts, their parents, the volunteers and coaches has been amazing and it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the opening with them here today.”
The new facility has enabled the club to grow its membership and will also allow it to facilitate additional disability classes and have Special Educational Needs Schools attend weekly sessions at the club.
Business and Facilities Development Manager for Welsh Gymnastics, Victoria Jones, said: “The whole Bangor Gymnastics’ community has worked its socks off to achieve this today. Welsh Gymnastics is so proud to see another one of our clubs move into a new facility and offer more membership. It is a testament to this club that it has achieved the top disability sport award and opened its new facility in the space of a few weeks – that is no mean feat.
“I wish Bangor Gymnastics’ Club continued success in this wonderful new facility.”