Results 2013
The club has proved a huge success and the demand continues to grow. All the activities we offer are fully booked and we have an extensive list of parents who are keen for their children to be involved. We continue to offer gymnastics and dance activities for children from walking up to young adults.
100 children took part in 5 taster events at the club during the year. We continue to host Hackney schools in regular weekly sessions at the club and one off taster sessions. We have increased our community involvement to include taking work experience students from local schools, expanding our Leadership academy, increasing volunteering opportunities at the club, mentoring and training new coaches from the local community and providing job opportunities.
Volunteering and work experience
2 new volunteer parents are helping with classes and training to be qualified coaches. 12 young leaders from the club are being mentored and receiving training on how to run a club, assist with coaching and host events through our Leadership Academy. The club hosted 1 work experience student from Stoke Newington School for a week, she experienced reception duties, administration skills, computer skills as well as learning about coaching young children. The club intends to expand these opportunities next year and has signed up to offer work placements to further students next year.
Training and events
During the year we have completed:
First aid training for 10 members of staff, volunteers and young leaders, fire safety training for all full time staff. 2 volunteers have completed their safeguarding children course, British Gymnastics coaching qualifications, 4 staff have completed their Equity training. We have mentored and trained 1 x Level 1 General Gymnastic coach, 1 x Level 2 Women's Artistic Coach. 5 volunteers and staff are booked to do the pre school level 1 course. 2 staff are booked to do the Men's Artistic level 2 course. 5 staff have continued professional development and completed Level 3training modules. 2 staff have completed the Sports Acro judging course and 1 staff member is booking to complete the regional tumbling course. We are being used as a British Gymnastics venue to host training courses for the region.
A number of free events were held at the club including;
60 children taking part in the fun free activities at the annual Halloween party event,
Over 200 children took part in the annual badge testing at the club and achieve their tumbling stars award to move up to the next level, 300 children took part in the club annual Christmas display which was inspired by the Magic of Christmas this year. Over 200 children took part in the annual club competition and experienced competition many of them for the first time and over 100 medals were awarded to competitors.
The club had many regional and national success stories including: 36 entries in the Gymnastics UK competitions in March and September and took 44 medals home, 18 Gold medals, 15 Silver medals, 11 Bronze medals. The club competed 8 children in the regional Acro championships for the first time. 20 children have been taking part in the regional tumbling league and a team in currently in 3rd place. 3 Boys squad members attended the regional Men's training clinics this year and we intend to enter a team in next year's Men's London Events. A team of 20 children took part in the Gym fusion events throughout the UK and performed their 'Next Generation' themed display at Milton Keynes, Guildford and London this year.
The club continues to be part of the Jack Petchey Award Scheme and this money is used to help support club events and buy new equipment. The club also continues its' fundraising activities to help support the existing program, update equipment, train and mentor people into work and volunteering opportunities. Popular fundraising activities included: nearly new toy sale, book sale, clothes recycling events, cake sale and Christmas goodies sale. Club photographs were taken and sold as a fundraising event this was a huge success with over 200 photos being purchased by family members.
The dance school has had a successful year. Twenty pupils took exams at The Royal Academy of Dance in May all passed with very high marks. More students have taken up the chance to do both dance and gymnastics this year and we are beginning to see the benefit to these students in terms of their ability to work with music and understanding of body co-ordination. We continue to develop the link between dance and gymnastics at a higher level, by integrating dance training in both the younger and older squads.