The trustees of Rushcliffe School and Nottinghamshire County Council had significant growth objectives and plans for the school, which included demolishing the old leisure centre to expand the school’s capacity.
This meant the academy had to work with both parties to find a way through the work, that would not only preserve the gymnastics academy in its current location, but improve, modernise and expand facilities.
The old leisure centre has now gone, the new school buildings are nearly finished and on Saturday 13 July they opened the first half of the amazing new facilities.
Helen Heasman said:
‘We have significantly improved the experience for our gymnasts and coaches – with new convenient access, new toilets, new locker areas, new offices and new reception areas.
‘We also sought a much better experience for parents and carers, and have created a new entrance, new drop off points, new bleachers for events, and an amazing new café and social hub (no more waiting outside in all weathers!), offering refreshments and a space to sit and relax, with a series of TV screens showing live feed from the gym.
‘The journey hasn’t been an easy one. The coaches, gymnasts, parents and management team have coped with some difficult times along the way – from no heating, no indoor toilets, and no indoor waiting areas to our devastating pit floods of October 2023. They have dealt with it all in a positive way and we are so excited to emerge with a facility that we are proud of, and that will continue to nurture and develop this fantastic sport well into the future.
‘And what’s more, we are only half-way through our plans! In the autumn, we will take ownership of the school’s old sports hall and squash courts, which will enable us to knock through from our current gym space to create one of the biggest, best gymnastic facilities in the UK.
‘We run the Academy as a charity, meaning we can invest every pound we have back into the gym. And we seek your continued support as we undertake this second part of our expansion – whether through our fundraising team, our welfare team, volunteering your time and skills, or directing us to new funding sources. Please get in touch.
Cllr Jonathan Wheeler, County Councillor for West Bridgford South said:
‘It was an honour to officially open the new Nottinghamshire Gymnastic Academy this morning.
‘It has been a pleasure to be involved with the Academy all these years; the can do culture of the people involved has been amazing to see.
‘Despite the challenges of the new school build and the flooding, everyone involved has worked together to deliver the new Academy.
‘There are exciting times ahead with the expansion into the old sports hall from Rushcliffe school to come.
‘The Academy has produced dozens of Olympic, Commonwealth and World Medalists and supported hundreds of children and adults to learn and enjoy gymnastics.’
