A MAJOR cash injection will help a gymnastics club dance its way to an exciting future.
The Penzance group has been awarded £50,000 from the National Lottery as an Olympic legacy project. The Sport England cash will be used to upgrade the facilities and inspire more young people to take up the discipline.
"This will improve everyone's skills immensely," said club manager and coach, Bibba Willis.
Penzance Gymnastics Club, which has helped thousands of young people get into sport since it opened its doors in 1972, will use the cash to bring in energy-efficient sports lighting, a sprung floor, raised foam-filled asymmetric bar pit, beam and rings along with other training aids. The new equipment will also allow the club, which has members from pre-school to adults, to open the sport up to even more local people with learning disabilities.
"Having the bar pit is the icing on the cake," said Miss Willis. "It is ideal because it is extra safe and extra comfortable. We already work with Nancealverne School but we want to work with more adults too."
The news of the funding success came just after the group moved to a new building at Long Rock Industrial Estate.
"With lots of help from parents and volunteers, we can now look forward to running more sessions for all age groups and abilities over six days a week," said Miss Willis. "The funding will enable the club to run sessions for parents and toddlers, pre-school age children and adults, as well as increasing the number of sessions available for school-aged children."
The funding was provided through the Inspired Facilities scheme, which is part of the £150 million Places People Play legacy programme.
Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.
