Walsall gymnastics club set to welcome more students following grant
A gymnastics club in Walsall is set to improve its facilities and welcome more young gymnasts after receiving a £6,000 grant from local funding provider, Walsall Business Support.
Active Gym, a specialist club for young amateur and professional gymnasts, will use the grant to purchase new rings for the bars, new landing mats and new floor mats to accommodate more students from across the area.
The club offers a wide range of classes and structured sessions for children aged 18 months to 13 years old, using equipment such as trampolines, bars and beams.
They also run competitions for more advanced children who go on to compete externally. Many of the Active Gym staff are former gymnasts themselves, with several currently training for British Gymnastics qualifications.
Alex Walker, Active Gym’s owner, said: “We have fantastic staff but didn’t have as much equipment as we needed, or enough floor space to warm up. Our current floor mats could only hold up to 20 children, so we couldn’t fully utilise the staff and the facilities we had.
“With the new equipment, we can now improve the quality of our sessions, bring in more gymnasts and ultimately increase our revenue. We’re really grateful to Walsall Business Support for supporting our journey.”
The club, now in its 24th year, has a long history in the local community. Alex first joined the club at the age of two, training as a gymnast for eight years before returning to work at the club for a decade. He later purchased the club when the previous owner retired.
Active Gym currently operates from three leisure centres throughout Walsall, but in the future, Alex hopes to move the club into a permanent facility where his team can design the space and leave their equipment in one location.
Walsall Business Support board member, Angela Henderson, said: “We’re really pleased to have enabled Active Gym to expand their facilities and welcome more young people into the sport.
"Their commitment to quality coaching and providing opportunities for children in Walsall is a great example of the positive impact local businesses can have on the community.”
Walsall Business Support offers grants and a free training needs analysis to businesses looking to generate growth, create employment or shape training opportunities within the borough of Walsall.
Applications can be made using an online form on the WBS website by businesses seeking investment in new projects or wishing to improve skills.
To apply for a grant, visit walsallbusinesssupport.co.uk/apply-now/
