
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
34 | CITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF GYMNASTICS
to advanced and high-flyer groups,
receiving either 60 or 90 minutes of
tuition. There are 1,600 children per
week at this level. In addition, there
are development groups of varying
ages and abilities and these provide a
significant pool of talent, totalling 130
children, who will then move to primary,
junior and senior competition groups.
The staff consists of 20 expert coaches,
three administrators and two caretakers
and managers. I am an Honorary Master
Coach and judge and I manage the
institute alongside International and
High Performance Coach Jane Leigh.
The club runs a timetable of activity
seven days a week, 50 weeks of the
year. Most of our activities are after
the school day has finished and also
at weekends. Between 4pm and
7pm seven general classes take place
from Monday to Friday. On Saturday
mornings over 20 general classes
are coached between 9am and 2pm
and on Sunday morning 12 classes
are delivered between 9am and
2pm to complete our programme.
Thecompetitive groups train between
5pm and 9pm each weekday evening,
from 1pm to 5pm each Saturday and
also from 9am to 2pm Sunday.
National success coupled with
professionalism
The popularity of gymnastics as a sport
has increased dramatically since the
London Olympics in 2012. The British
successes in London were followed
up in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with the
British gymnastics team having the
second-highest medal tally out of all
of the sports. Our membership has
increased by 40 per cent from this
period to a point where we have had
to be more creative in finding space for
extra classes.
We are extremely proud of our
coaching and teaching method,
stemming from our educational
viewpoint and a deep understanding
of the sport. A large proportion of our
coaching staff come from a teaching
background, which brings a sound
methodology and professionalism to all
our programmes.
Expert coach Chelsey
assisting a student with
a back flick
We have had
to be more
creative in
finding space
for extra
classes
“
“
35CITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF GYMNASTICS |
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT
Sound strategy leads to more
development
It has become obvious that we need
to venture into the next stage of our
development by securing funding and
planning for an even larger and more
diverse premises. This could cater
for even greater numbers, differing
aspects of gymnastics and improved
catering and changing facilities. A
feasibility study has been secured, and
links with our partners in the council
have shown a desire for a new-build
and extension in the near future.
Plans for a new health and community
centre in the immediate vicinity would
release land adjacent to the present
gym, in turn enabling the club to
develop its plans towards an even
bigger and better facility.
The club was for a long time a
community associated sports club.
We are now a not-for-profit limited
company, heavily investing back into
the club, following a strategy which
includes increasing membership to
reach more and more children. Not
only does this also boost our ability to
reinvest in the community, but it also
satisfies our core aim of introducing
gymnastics to as many individuals as
possible and meeting the sporting and
health needs of children throughout
Manchester.
An inspirational future
Fundamentally, we recognise that
gymnastics is the bedrock of all
our sports activities. As schools are
restricted in how much physical activity
they can bring to their constricted
timetable, the club feels it is our
mission to make available these
activities in a facility which has the
wow factor. In the future the club
would look to introduce trampolining,
adult classes and team gym and to
encourage more post-15-year-olds to
enjoy this great sport. In addition, we
wish to provide a future programme
of school gymnastics activity, with
City of Manchester Gymnastics’
coaches setting up programmes
alongside teachers. In 2021, the
club will celebrate 50 years since our
inauguration. With the passion and
enthusiasm of the present staff, the
next 50 years promises to be every bit
as exciting as the last.
It has become
obvious that we
need to venture
into the next
stage of our
development by
securing
funding and
planning for an
even larger and
more diverse
premises
“
“
British medallist Renee
Pullin