Applications for our third round of Hardship Grant Programme funding will reopen on Tuesday 4th May.

Our gymnastics community is strong, but the effect of the virus continues to affect us all in some way. For some British Gymnastics members, we know that the coronavirus has had a devastating effect on their lives and livelihoods, making a return to gymnastics feel like the impossible.

We are one big gymnastics family, and we want to ensure that nobody in our family drops out of the sport that they love because of significant financial hardship or family crisis caused by the coronavirus; that is why the British Gymnastics Foundation (the partner charity of British Gymnastics), has been working hard to make extra funds available for our British Gymnastics members who are most in need during this crisis.

This, the third round of Covid-19 recovery Hardship Grants will open on 4^th May, so if you are a British Gymnastics member who is struggling financially to afford the costs of staying in the sport, please apply as soon as you can.

Impact of the Hardship Grants Programme
Since the start of the Hardship Grants Programme in March 2015, we have awarded grants totalling £255,922. This has benefitted the lives of 752 individuals. We found that 98% of Hardship Grant recipients are still in the sport 12 months after receiving a grant and 94% of recipients stated that the British Gymnastics Foundation’s Hardship Grant made a hugely positive impact on their life & their family’s life.

What is a hardship grant and when can I apply for one?
The Hardship Grants Programme was initially designed to provide financial assistance to British Gymnastics members to help them continue participating in gymnastics through times of significant financial hardship. Due to the current crisis, we have worked hard to make more funds available for the Hardship Grant Programme, to deliver special rounds of funding that supports British Gymnastics members suffering financially in these difficult times. The grants can be used to help pay for the future costs of participating in gymnastics for individual participants.

Applications can be made through our Hardship Grants Programe page.

Applications will open on 4^th May; and will remain open until midnight on 17^th May.

Who can apply for a Hardship Grant in this special funding round?
The grants are open to current British Gymnastics members who are in significant financial hardship and who are at risk of dropping out of gymnastics as a result of the coronavirus. We are very pleased to announce that within this round of funding, and in addition to our general pot of funding, we have £25,000 available to specifically support disabled British Gymnastics members; and we would like to extend our most sincere thanks to The Peter Harrison Foundation for their most generous grant which has enabled us to support disabled members who are at risk of dropping out of gymnastics for financial reasons.

British Gymnastics Foundation will NOT fund any of the following:

• British Gymnastics members who are deemed to be financially capable of/or have the means to fund their involvement in gymnastics.
• Any person who has made a false claim in the past.
• Gymnasts in receipt of UK Sport Lottery funding.
• British Gymnastics staff members.

It is extremely important that as a gymnastics community, we are all there to support those who are most in need and at risk of dropping out of gymnastics completely. We treat fraudulent claims very seriously and we strongly urge those who have the means to get back to gymnastics, to not apply as doing so may result in charity funds not being available to support someone else who is in desperate need of our help.

> Hardship Grants Criteria

Once you have applied, what happens next?
Throughout May and June, we will be working hard to review all applications for funding; aiming to review all applications and notify each applicant of our award decision by the end of June. We ordinarily run one Hardship Grant Application Panel each quarter, but for this special round of funding, we will run as many Grants Panels as is necessary to review all applications.

There will likely be many more applications than is usual, so please bear with us as we work through this. We will fully consider each individual case and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the means to get back to gymnastics when it is safe to do so.

Last week, Millie along with thousands of gymnasts across England returned to gymnastics after months away in lockdown.

Millie, who is 16 years-old, has been with Hertfordshire Gymnastics Club (HGC) for over 8 years, and to her, this is her happy place.

During her time with HGC she has competed at national level in both Acrobatic Gymnastics and Tumbling. In 2015, she won silver with her Grade 2 trio in Acro.

Millie lives at home with her sister Rhiannon and her mum, Emma and her partner.

Millie’s father passed away when she and her sister were both very young but Emma has always worked to do everything she can to allow them to fulfil their dreams.

Emma works in a primary school and has recently been promoted but last year, she like many other parents across the UK felt the impact of the pandemic.

“Supporting two teenagers is hard and my wage does not go very far but I try my best to allow the girls to take part in as much as possible.

“Covid-19 had an impact on our household income, as I wasn’t able work the extra hours I would normally work and whilst my partner is a great support, the girls have always been my responsibility financially. I have never expected him to support them.”

As gymnastics clubs were allowed to reopen later in the year, Emma looked for ways to how she could keep Millie in the sport and discovered the British Gymnastics Foundation’s Hardship Grants Programme.

“I found out about the grant from the manager, Nic Munns at HGC and did some research online.

“With Nic’s support, I applied for the grant. The process was easy and everyone along the way has been so lovely and so helpful.

Following a successful application, Millie was to continue training with HGC in the gym and remotely during lockdown through Zoom.

“Millie has been able to continue to train with the help of the Hardship Grant. The grant has helped with fees, travelling to training and kit for training. Without the grant, I would have really struggled to meet the costs. It has enabled her to continue to do what she loves.”

The effects of the pandemic continued into the start of the New Year but now, with the hope of no further lockdowns, Millie, along with many others, will be hoping to make the most of returning.

“Millie is so excited to return and to be back with her friends and coaches at HGC, who are amazing!”

Applications for our next round of Hardship Grants open on Tuesday 4th May and close on Monday 17th May. For applications that are successful, we will be looking to get everyone’s grants paid by the end of June.

The gymnastics community is coming together to raise both spirits and plenty of money through their generosity and fundraising this Christmas.

Gymnast receives early Christmas gifts
The first of the stories we would like to share comes from Gracie-Mae McNeill (pictured above). A seven-year-old acrobatic gymnast, Gracie-Mae has, like many gymnasts, spent the year on Zoom calls with her coaches.

Last month, Gracie-Mae came home from school with a flyer about donating gifts to children over Christmas. The family then contacted us and asked if we knew of a young gymnast, the same age as Gracie-Mae, whose family might be going through a difficult time.

We put them in touch with Sienna, also a seven-year-old gymnast, who loves the sport and whose family has been going through a tough period.

Gracie-Mae has since chosen a mermaid sparkly leotard with a matching hair bobble and shorts that are personalised with Sienna’s name on that will be sent in the post.

This is such a heart-warming story and one we’re delighted to share.

Hardship Grants recipient begins fundraising challenge
We’re also delighted to share news from one of our Hardship Grant recipients, Sophie.

Earlier this year we ran a special round of Hardship Grants funding, especially for those going through times of financial hardship due to Covid-19. Sophie was one of 396 families that received support through the last round of funding.

Throughout December, Sophie has kindly decided to complete her very own challenge, raising money for both the British Gymnastics Foundation and her club, Revolution.

Sophie will be doing a handstand challenge each day of the month, and when she’s back in the gym, will be filming a routine that she’s created.

You can show your support for Sophie’s fundraising by visiting and donating here: Go Fund Me page.

It’s been a difficult year for so many people, but it’s great to see plenty of festive spirit from young gymnasts in the community.

As an 11 year-old gymnast, Charlie loves nothing more than being on a trampoline, whether at his club or in his garden. Beginning with artistic and tumbling, a couple of years ago Charlie’s mum enrolled him on to a programme to try trampoline. Charlie fell in love and made the switch to trampoline and DMT.

When lockdown began in March, Charlie’s mum, Jo, was unable to carry on working. A self-employed baker and children’s cookery teacher, the new government restrictions meant Jo stopped receiving an income for several months.

As a very sociable child who trains around five to six hours per week, it would have been difficult for Charlie to stop bouncing with his friends.

Despite this, during lockdown Charlie’s club managed to keep everyone connected by setting up virtual sessions.

“Charlie’s club were absolutely amazing. Within two or three weeks they set up exercises for them and strength and conditioning. This was amazing as it was all for free, keeping the kids really involved. Although they were not on the trampolines, they were still able to see their friends on the screen.”

With the free sessions continuing throughout the summer, it really helped Charlie to be able to continue training with his club on some level. However, returning to the club would still be difficult with no income for the summer. Jo worried that Charlie would have to stop attending.

“He is so happy when he is doing trampolining, and to take that away from a child would not be very nice.”

After the Head Coach at Charlie’s club became aware of her difficult financial situation, they encouraged Jo to apply for the Hardship Grant Programme. Within a couple of weeks, Jo had been told that she had been chosen to receive a Grant.

“It has been fantastic; it has allowed Charlie to train for the next few months without us having to worry about where we are going to find the money.”

“I felt very relieved that Charlie could continue to bounce – that is what he really wants to do.

“So many things have gone wrong in the last six months. It was such a positive thing to happen and we are very grateful for the Hardship Grant.”

With support from the Hardship Grant, Jo can cover the fees for Charlie to continue training and she can buy the specialist equipment he needs, such as trampoline and DMT shoes.

Over the last few months, we have had a lot of applications for our special Covid-19 Hardship Grants. We are determined to make sure that we can help as many people as we can that need our support. To do this, we need your help to continue to provide to those in times of hardship, and to leave no one behind.

To donate £10 please text FUND10 to 70191. To donate £20 text FUND20 to 70191.  

*Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

We are auctioning two Artistic Sprung Floors to raise money for our Leave No One Behind campaign.

One floor has previously been used at the British Championships while the other was used by our Ambassador Beth Tweddle MBE among other gymnastics greats and celebrities on the BBC Show Tumble! See more information about the equipment available here.

If you want to get your hands on a bargain for your club then all you need to do is visit our eBay page and make your bid. The audition will run from Monday 21st September at 7pm, ending on Thursday 1st October at 7pm.

All money raised will support families through our Hardship Grant Programme. Read more about our Hardship Grants.

While we have supported many families through our special Covid 19 Fund, there are many more who need our help to return to gymnastics.

Watch Lucy and Sophie’s story.

Reneyah is one of many Hardship Grant beneficiaries who is thriving in gymnastics after being given the opportunity to start trampolining by her school.

Created to help families on low incomes, Reneyah’s school set up a programme that gives children the opportunity to try a new sport to stay active and learn new skills.

It took Reneyah some time to feel comfortable on the programme but her mum, Roxanne, believes it has helped her to overcome some of her anxiety.

“She absolutely loved being part of the trampolining programme – it has given her so much confidence,” Roxanne began to explain.

“Prior to going to gymnastics, she suffered a lot with anxiety and was really withdrawn. I didn’t even think I’d be able to get her to go to the trampolining lessons in the first place.

“I spoke to the school about my daughter’s anxiety and the coach worked with her in different ways. As the weeks went by you could just see the smile come across her face.”

A few months ago, the impact of Covid-19 meant the family’s finances had to be prioritised, however, Roxanne soon discovered the Hardship Grants Programme and was thrilled to see that she was able to keep Reneyah on the programme.

“The support the grant has given us has been amazing. I don’t think she would have been able to continue doing the trampolining without it. I really think this could be something she carries on with now for life. She’s like a whole new person once she gets on a trampoline.”

Dave Marshall, Participation Director at British Gymnastics, who also sits on the Foundation Board of Trustees, added: “It’s wonderful to hear the benefits that gymnastics has had on Reneyah – the sport provides a wonderful foundation for the development of young people. It is imperative that no child is left behind in gymnastics because of their financial situation and we will do all we can to support those in need to continue in the sport they love.”

With your donations, we can support more families struggling financially to make sure that we leave no one behind. To donate £10 please text FUND10 to 70191. To donate £20 text FUND20 to 70191.  

*Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

Sophie is one of thousands of children who is glad to be back at gymnastics after a tough few months away from the sport. But her situation could have been very different if it wasn’t for her parents and the Hardship Grants Programme.

Based in the West Midlands, Sophie lives with her mum, her dad and her sister, Olivia.

Earlier this year, Sophie’s dad, who is a computer programmer, was put on furlough as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aged 6, Sophie has been doing gymnastics since she was 18 months old. Her club is like a second home. It’s where she gets to see all of her friends whilst doing her favourite activity.

“I love gymnastics!” Said Sophie. “Not just because it’s fun and I enjoy it but also because I get to exercise and see my friends.”

When the country went into lockdown Sophie was unable to go to gymnastics and there were doubts from her mum, Lucy, as to whether Sophie would be able to go back due to their financial situation.

Lucy explained: “We had to have a really difficult talk with Sophie to say that she might have to stop.”

“For Sophie, gymnastics is not just a hobby. For her, gymnastics is part of her life. Her coaches, her teammates and even the gym itself – it’s like a second home for her.”

As well as being physically beneficial for Sophie, gymnastics is also an activity that her mum believes helps her mentally and emotionally.

“Sophie has anxiety at times. If she’s worried about something or if something is upsetting her, gymnastics helps her to get those frustrations out.”

After constant worry that Sophie would not be able to return to gymnastics due to financial difficulties, things started to change when Lucy was directed to the Hardship Grants Programme.

“For Sophie gymnastics is not just a hobby. For her, gymnastics is part of her life. Her coaches, her teammates and even the gym itself – it’s like a second home for her.”

“It was Sophie’s deputy head teacher at her school who suggested that we look on the website at the Hardship Grants Programme to see if we were eligible for any of the funds.

“I genuinely can’t thank her enough for pointing us in that direction because if we hadn’t, Sophie wouldn’t be at gymnastics now.”

After being successful with her application, Lucy was delighted to share the news with Sophie.

“When I received the email, I cried.”

“Knowing that I could secure her place in her [gymnastics] squad and that I didn’t have to tell her that she had to stop doing gymnastics made my day.”

With your donations, we can support more families struggling financially to make sure that we leave no one behind.
To donate £10 please text FUND10 to 70191. To donate £20 text FUND20 to 70191.  

*Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

Help us raise money for our Hardship Grants Programme and help keep gymnasts in our sport. 

Many gymnasts in our community are unable to return to the sport due to the financial impact that has been caused by the coronavirus.

On 1^st July we opened a special round of Covid-19 Hardship Grant funding for British Gymnastics members who were unable to continue taking part in gymnastics to due financial issues.

We have since been inundated with applications. We have heard some truly heart-breaking stories from families who have lost jobs, have been unable to pay utility bills and have had to use food banks for the first time in their lives.

We have managed to help many people who have been in touch however, there are still many gymnasts that need our support and we need your help to do this!

That is why we are running our ‘Leave No One Behind’ campaign, to shine a light on how our Hardship Grants Programme supports our community and makes a difference to the lives of so many gymnasts.

We will be sharing stories on our website and across our digital channels from families who have been supported by our special Covid-19 Hardship Grants to show the impact that your donation can make.

With your donations, we can support more families struggling financially to make sure that we leave no one behind.

To donate £10 please text FUND10 to 70191. To donate £20 text FUND20 to 70191.  

*Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

British Gymnastics members can now apply for financial support through a special round of our Hardship Grants funding.

For some British Gymnastics members we know that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a devastating impact on their livelihoods, making a return to gymnastics feel impossible. That’s why, as their partner charity, we’ve been working hard alongside them, to make extra funds available to those members that are most in need. Through British Gymnastics’ Step Forward Plan, those going through significant financial hardship can now apply to receive funding that will help to keep them in the sport they love.

Below are all the details you need to know before applying. You can also find out more and apply by heading to our Hardship Grants page.

What is a hardship grant and how long have I got to apply?
The Hardship Grants Programme is our initiative designed to provide financial assistance to British Gymnastics members, to help them continue participating in gymnastics through times of significant financial hardship. The programme has been running for over five years now and has helped over 300 members.

Due to the current crisis, we have worked hard to make more funds available for the Hardship Grant Programme, to deliver a special round of funding for participants, which supports members suffering financially in these difficult times. The grants can be used to help pay for the costs of participating in gymnastics for individual participants.

Applications are now open and will remain open throughout July and August. Applications can be made here.

Who can apply for a Hardship Grant?
In this special funding round for participants, the grants are open to current British Gymnastics members who are in significant financial hardship and are at risk of dropping out of gymnastics as a result of COVID-19.

Funding will not be awarded to any of the following:
– British Gymnastics members who are deemed to be financially capable of/or have the means to fund their involvement in gymnastics.
– Any person who has made a false claim in the past.
– Gymnasts in receipt of UK Sport Lottery funding.
– British Gymnastics staff members.

It is extremely important that you know we are here to support those most in need and at risk of dropping out of gymnastics completely. We will treat fraudulent claims very seriously and we strongly urge those who have the means to get back to gymnastics, to not apply. Doing so may result in charity funds not being available to support someone else who is in desperate need of our help.

Once I’ve applied, what happens next?
Throughout July, August and September, we will be working hard with British Gymnastics to review all applications for funding. We aim to review all applications and notify each applicant of our award decision within a month of receiving their completed application. We ordinarily run one Hardship Grant Application Panel each quarter, but for this special participant round of funding, we will run as many ‘Grants Panels’ as is necessary to review all applications.

There will likely be many more applications than usual, so please bear with us as we work through this. We will fully consider each individual case and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the means to get back to gymnastics when it is safe to do so.

We are delighted to announce that we have made our seated activity programme, Love to Move, designed to get older people moving and functioning better, available online.

You can now take part in the very first full session alongside our Lead Deliverer Kim Hall, in the comfort of your own home. The programme is chair-based and helps to improve memory, balance, flexibility and co-ordination. It’s perfect for older relatives or loved ones that may be self-isolating at home during this difficult time.

Patrick Bonner, Head of the British Gymnastics Foundation, said: “We have seen the positive impact Love to Move can have on the physical and cognitive aspects of older people in the last few years and we want to get the programme out to as many of those self-isolating as possible in order for them to feel the benefits and keep moving.

“We have released the video of Kim Hall, our lead deliverer so people can take part in sessions from their own home.”

The programme integrates the use of gymnastic foundation skills, cognitive stimulation therapy and social interaction activities. The majority of the programme is based on bilaterally asymmetrical movement patterns, essentially working the left and right sides of the brain separately, which benefits older people and those living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

You can read more about Love to Move on our dedicated webpage, where you can also find a downloadable booklet that includes some of the exercises that make the programme so unique.

We would love for you to share your stories of Love to Move with us. If you would like to do so, please email [email protected].