Notts Gymnastics Academy has welcomed ongoing support from Rushcliffe Borough Council’s (RBC) West Bridgford Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to support its growing membership of 1,800 weekly participants.
Based on Boundary Road in West Bridgford, the academy is helping thousands of young people and adults stay active, build confidence and develop valuable life skills through gymnastics.
It is also celebrating a major sporting milestone, with six gymnasts and two coaches selected to represent their nations at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Junior European Championships.
This marks one of the strongest international representations in the academy’s history and is a fantastic achievement not only for the club but also for sport across Rushcliffe and the wider East Midlands region.
Alongside its elite sporting success, the academy continues to play an important role in the local community by encouraging people of all ages to get active and enjoy the benefits of exercise. Its Participation Programme focuses on widening access to gymnastics and delivering positive social outcomes for local residents.
Through the fourth round of West Bridgford Neighbourhood CIL funding, RBC has awarded the academy funding to support a range of further improvements.
These include additional accommodation, improved accessibility to changing facilities and a more welcoming and functional reception area. Features also extend to inclusive spaces to better support participants with additional needs and digital development to strengthen marketing and engagement and attract new members and audiences.
The investment builds on previous CIL funding from the Council, which helped create a café and viewing area at the academy, improving the experience for gymnasts, members and visitors.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Wellbeing and ICT, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, recently visited Notts Gymnastics Academy, meeting Participation Director (Strategy and Growth) Ben Mathews and gymnasts to see first-hand the progress made and the academy’s continued growth.
Cllr Wheeler said: “It’s fantastic to see the continued growth and success of Notts Gymnastics Academy, both as a centre for sporting excellence and as a hugely important community facility.
“We are pleased to have successfully allocated West Bridgford CIL funding to vital community projects across the local area. Notts Gymnastics Academy is an excellent example of how these contributions are being used to deliver improvement works that benefit the whole community, encouraging increased participation in the sport across all ages.
“This funding, generated through development in the local area, plays an important role in supporting the community facilities, local services and green spaces that residents value and use every day.”
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Davinder Virdi, added: “It is fantastic that we can keep helping to support growth across Rushcliffe through the CIL by supporting local groups such as Notts Gymnastics Academy.
“We’re proud to support projects that strengthen our communities and ensure our borough continues to be a great place to live, work and enjoy leisure activities. Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation we shared about how this current round of funding should be spent.”
Ben Mathews said: “The support from Rushcliffe Borough Council is helping us to accelerate our vision of creating an even greater impact across our local community. At Notts Gymnastics Academy, we are committed to working collaboratively with schools, commercial partners, local authorities and community organisations to develop more innovative programmes that reach more people and create meaningful opportunities for participation.
“Our ambition is to make Notts Gymnastics Academy one of the most impactful community sports organisations in the UK. While we’re immensely proud of our performance success, we are equally passionate about the difference we can make in people’s lives through participation, physical activity and community engagement.
“We know that by expanding our work and reach, we can widen access, support healthier communities and inspire more people to lead active lives. This funding and support only help us to continue that journey, strengthening our facilities whilst supporting our broader vision to create positive social outcomes.”
West Bridgford Neighbourhood CIL is funded by developers and helps meet the growing demand for local services and infrastructure resulting from new development, ensuring communities continue to benefit from improved facilities and enhanced local provision.
In most areas, Neighbourhood CIL funding is administered and spent by town and parish councils. For West Bridgford, the funding is allocated through its Special Expenses Group, consisting of Cllr Virdi, Cllr Wheeler, Cllr Calvert, Cllr Chaplain, Cllr Dellar, Cllr Mallender, Cllr Matthews, Cllr Om and Cllr Parekh, with RBC acting in the role of a parish council for these purposes.
