Wirral's independent local news website
A Birkenhead trampolining club have received national recognition for their crucial contribution to the local community – but head coach Andy Wild insists their impact runs even deeper.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, the members and staff of Propulsion Trampolining rallied around Wild, buoyed by their new club motto ‘You are never out of the fight’.
Now the club have been shortlisted for the Community Club of the Year (-250 members) prize at the British Gymnastics Awards, just recognition for their crucial work in the Wirral Peninsula.
And Wild was among the first to call for the club to receive credit for their incredible work.
“I had a really aggressive form of cancer in my head, and the club’s passion and the energy of the members gave me that fight and that drive to pick myself up,” said Wild.
“It definitely made me stronger, and after my surgery and treatments I walked into the club and they had rebranded all their kit with ‘You are never out of the fight’ on all their t-shirts.
“They still wear it today, and when they are low or down I say the same to them, they are never out of the fight.
“I get scanned every year, I am just awaiting my results for this year, but I feel alright and there are now new signs.
“It really showed the emphasis on community coming together that the club has.
“They really picked me up, and it really showed that the club has that spirit, and you can see it in training.
“When someone is down, they will pick them up.”
The British Gymnastics Awards are community led and about championing those who make the sport an uplifting experience for all, with more nominations than ever before coming in this year.
It is the creativity, dedication and passion from people in the sport that make gymnastics an accessible, inclusive and enjoyable sport for all.
The nominations have been judged by panels made up of British Gymnastics committee members and external panellists from across UK Sport, Gymnova, Milano, Gymaid, Youth Sport Trust, Sport England, Women in Sport, The Include Summit, Sport and Recreation Alliance, The Sport for Development Coalition and GB gymnasts.
The Community Club of the Year (-250 members) Award is presented to a British Gymnastics-affiliated club that provides a quality experience for fewer than 250 members.
As of 2021, people living along the east side of the Wirral Peninsula have a life expectancy a decade shorter than elsewhere in the borough, but Wild believes the club is helping to unite the community.
He added, “We only charge 50p for kids for some of our classes, so we are giving everyone the opportunity to participate.
“We are by far one of the cheapest clubs in the country and it gives everybody that access and the opportunity to participate.
“We have our own ‘Pink Group’ which is our Propulsion youth networking committee.
“That is run by the kids and they know some kids can’t afford to buy a leotard or afford a competition.
“They will fundraise themselves, we spend our money so we don’t miss out on those kids who could potentially excel in gymnastics.”
The British Gymnastics Awards celebrate those at the heart of gymnastics who create an uplifting experience for all. British Gymnastics has launched a new vision for a new era of gymnastics, learn more about Leap Without Limits here – https://www.british-gymnastics.org/vision
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