A Garston-based gymnastics club has secured £50,000 to transform a vacant warehouse into purpose-built training facility.
Dolphina Gymnastics Club has been awarded the lottery cash from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund as part of efforts to bolster sporting achievement in the wake last year’s London Olympics.
The club, which currently trains at Woodside Leisure Centre, said it has experienced a surge in interest since the games where Team GB had a record medal haul.
It plans to use the cash to turn a 4,000 ft warehouse in the Greycaine Industrial Estate, off Bushey Mill, Lane in north Watford with new training equipment and a permanent sprung floor.
Karen Butler, Dolphina Gymnastics Club Founder and Head Coach, said: "We are thrilled to have secured this investment from Sport England.
"The new gymnastics centre will help our gymnasts to achieve their full potential and enable Dolphina build on the 2012 Olympics’ legacy and introduce the sport of gymnastics to many more children and adults."
Dolphina has already secured a lease on the warehouse and hopes it will be open by January 2014.
The club said having a permanent facility would allow it to run more training session, take on more students and hopefully find help an Olympic star of the future.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill, who supported Dolphina’s application said: "This is great news for the Club and I’m delighted that their bid was successful.
"We all know that Dolphina Gymnastics Club is a unique valuable asset to the town and indeed the surrounding areas. This grant means that the excellent work they do can continue."
Sport England’s Chair, Nick Bitel, added: "A year on from the Olympics, this National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy in Hertfordshire.
"With investment now on offer from our Inspired Facilities Fund until 2017, we look forward to supporting many more sports clubs in the south east who play such a vital role in grassroots sport."
As part of its celebrations the club is holding a gymnastics taster session at Woodside Leisure Centre on August 16 from 6.30pm.
For further information please call 07981794455 or email: dolphinagymclub@gmail.com
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