Shocked community club fights back after lease is not renewed by richest charity in Milton Keynes
One of the city’s most popular children’s clubs is fighting back after the richest charity in MK has refused to renew the lease on their premises after 25 years.
Milton Keynes Gymnastics club leaders were told this month they will not be offered another lease at their Kingston home, where thousands of youngsters have fallen in love with the sport over the years.
Their landlords are Milton Keynes Community Foundation (MKCF), the city’s grant-making charity which has an annual income of more than £5m and owns assets worth many millions.
The foundation has not given a reason for its decision but has given the club six months to find a new home.
Now the club is concerned it will be unable to find new premises that are large enough and suitable enough and its future is in jeopardy. Its closure would affect more than 3,000 children.
Supporters have this week set up a Facebook group called Save Our Gym and are urging people to join.
A spokesperson for the group said: “For over 25 years, this club has been so much more than just a gym. It’s where thousands of children – of every age, ability, and those with additional needs – learn new skills, build confidence, make friends, and fall in love with sport.
"Now we’ve been told we cannot renew our lease here… with no clear reason given, even though we have kept up with all payments and obligations.”
They added: “Over 3,000 local children are connected to this facility. Losing it would be devastating...”
A spokesperson for MKCF said: “ “Milton Keynes Community Foundation has been proud to support MK Gymnastics for the past 26 years, providing more than £1 million in rent subsidy at our gymnastics centre in Kingston.
“Following careful consideration, our Property Committee has decided not to offer a new lease when the current agreement comes to an end in February 2027.
“The current lease and rent subsidy will remain in place until that date... We remain in regular conversation with the charity’s management team and trustees as they plan for the future.”
This week the supporters of Kingston Gymnastics have published on its Facebook page a sheet of questions and answers between the club and the community foundation. In it, the club disputes the foundation’s claim that its rent was subsidised by £1m over the years. They say they were paying the full rent requested until 2020 and this was a sum suitable for a commercial building. MKCF then changed their system and the total in subsidies since then has been £343,196, not the “fictitious amount” quoted, says the group.
MK Community Foundation raise funds by obtaining donations from individuals and companies and then distributes money in grants to local charities and community groups. Its subsidiary company MK Community Properties Ltd provides local voluntary and community organisations with accommodation at a subsidised rate.
Companies House data shows MKCF to have received a total gross income last year of £5,094,489 and its total expenditure was £4.88m .