We are, British Gymnastics Community Club of the Year!
- WGC
- Feb 15
- 3 min read
🏆 We are incredibly proud to share that our Club has been named British Gymnastics Community Club of the Year 2026.
This national award recognises clubs that don’t just deliver gymnastics but use the sport to create long-term impact for individuals, families, and the wider community.
And this year, that club is us.
🌟 It Started With a Simple Belief
We believe gymnastics should be:
Inclusive
Supportive
Aspirational
Accessible to all
Everything we’ve built over the past few years has centred around one question:
How can we create more opportunities for more people in our community, for longer?
🌟 Building Clearer Pathways for Every Gymnast
Growth hasn’t happened by accident.
We expanded our programme to create stronger, clearer progression routes:
4 new weekly Tumble sessions (recreational to entry competitive)
A new Regional Artistic group bridging performance pathways
6 weekly Key Steps classes for structured early development
New Teen & Intermediate classes to retain older gymnasts
The result?
Weekly recreational participation has grown from 482 gymnasts in 2021 to 840 in 2025, reflecting trust in our programme.
Despite facility limitations, we restructured timetables and introduced new initiatives like daytime provision for home-educated children, ensuring space never becomes a barrier to opportunity.
🌟 Inclusion at the Heart of the Club
Our identity is inclusion.
What began as a single additional needs session has grown into:
3 weekly in-club additional needs classes
2 weekly outreach sessions with SEN schools and support groups
Dedicated provision delivered to The White Lodge Centre
Gymnasts representing Woking at regional additional needs competitions
Our Annual Additional Needs Day remains one of the most meaningful days in our calendar, closing regular sessions to dedicate the entire facility to inclusive community provision.
This is not a bolt-on programme.
It is central to who we are.
🌟 Growing People, Not Just Programmes
Sustainable growth means developing people.
Over the past year alone:
30+ coaches progressed through British Gymnastics qualifications
Qualifications ranged from Gymnastics Helper to Artistic Levels 4 & 5
Judging, mentoring and international pathways were strengthened
Craig requalified as a brevet judge!
Our Leadership Academy, now in its eighth year, continues to nurture the next generation of coaches and volunteers. Many of today’s lead coaches started in this very programme.
Last month, we welcomed a new cohort of 21 aspiring young leaders, investing in the future of the club.
🌟 Welfare, Voice and Belonging
A positive experience doesn’t happen by chance.
Our welfare team has expanded and strengthened, adopting a proactive approach to gymnast wellbeing. We introduced:
Member surveys and structured feedback channels
Buddy systems for younger gymnasts
“Voice boxes” to ensure every gymnast feels heard
A redesigned internal badge system
Weekly Star of the Week awards
Termly achievement medals
We were also proud to be selected to pilot British Gymnastics’ new national welfare system.
Because performance matters, but people matter more.
🌟 A Club That Reaches Beyond Its Walls
Community impact extends far beyond our gym floor.
Each week we deliver sessions to:
Two local schools
Three SEN schools
Local disability organisations
The White Lodge Centre
The University of Surrey gymnastics team
Through partnerships with Surrey Social Services, we provide bursaries to ensure financial barriers never prevent participation.
We’ve performed at community events, visited nurseries, supported smaller clubs with equipment access, and introduced new initiatives like Mummy & Baby Pilates to widen our community reach.
This award recognises not just what happens inside our building, but the ripple effect beyond it.
🌟 A Celebration of Every Level
From pre-school gymnasts taking their first jumps…
To recreational members earning new badges…
To competitive success on national and European stages…
Our annual Club Festival welcomed a record-breaking 400 gymnasts last year - bringing together pre-school, additional needs, recreational and competitive athletes in one shared celebration.
It perfectly represents who we are:
One club. Many pathways. Every gymnasist is valued.
🌟 What This Award Really Means
When British Gymnastics announced us as Community Club of the Year 2026, they recognised:
Sustainable club development
Inclusive and positive culture
Meaningful contribution to the wider community
But this award belongs to more than the club.
It belongs to:
Our gymnasts
Our coaches
Our volunteers
Our parents
Our alumni
Our partners
Our supporters
Every person who has contributed to building this culture.
🌟 What Happens Next?
This award isn’t a finish line.
It’s momentum.
In 2026, we will:
Continue expanding inclusive provision
Strengthen coach development
Grow participation opportunities
Invest further in wellbeing
Deepen our community partnerships
Because our mission remains the same.
To be the springboard to lifelong growth.
And thanks to our community, that mission is stronger than ever. 💙
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