Community / Gymnastics club looks for funding to explore possible new premises
THE LOCAL gymnastics club is hoping to secure funding for a feasibility study and site appraisal for new premises as part of an ongoing quest for a purpose built facility.
Shetland Gymnastics Club has been on the go for more than 15 years and runs classes at the Clickimin in Lerwick, but it says it outgrew its current premises around a decade ago.
No solution has been found yet, but head coach Julie Grant said the club has now sent in an application for grant money from the Crown Estate Fund to examine some sites and buildings.
The fund distributes revenue generated by Crown Estate assets around Shetland out to 12 nautical miles at sea, and it is administered by Shetland Islands Council.
“We recently submitted our Crown Estate stage two application to carry out a feasibility study plus site appraisal of several sites in Lerwick, plus we are investigating a possible suitable building as another option,” Grant said.
The situation has meant that the club – the UK’s most northerly – has accrued a sizeable waiting list, with more than 275 young children “desperate to join”.
“This has been the ongoing case for a long time now as we have spent nearly 10 years looking for a suitable building or site to have a purpose built facility for Shetland,” Grant said.
Pre-pandemic the group regularly sent participants to competitions on the mainland, as well as hosting events and shows in Shetland.
There are around 100 young people on the club’s books at the moment, with Covid restrictions on class sizes limiting the amount of folk able to take part.
The registered charity is also fundraising, and is looking for any sponsorship or help from any businesses which may be keen to help.
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