Popular gymnastics club faces collapse in Milton Keynes

MK Springers are a registered charity and have been providing recreational gymnastics sessions and squad sessions to gymnasts of all ages since 2004.

Since March last year, like many businesses, the club has felt the full impact of the pandemic and been unable to operate for much of the time.

The financial implications have taken their toll and the club is now at a "critical point".

Manager Felicity Candler-O'Donnell said: "The losses made each month are adding up, and the stark reality is that without financial support, the club may have to close."

They have joined national governing body, British Gymnastics, in lobbying government for additional much-needed funding for sport and leisure providers.

Felicity said: “Since the first lockdown our membership has fallen by a third, from 1,000 in March down to 650 today. Even though we were closed from the end of March through to the end of July, our customers remained very loyal. We asked them to continue paying half fees on a voluntary basis, if they could afford it, and the response was fantastic.”

As well as support from current members, the club have managed to successfully secure two separate grants, totalling nearly £15,000. This included £10,000 from Sport England’s Recovery Grant during the first lockdown, which helped to see through the initial closure of the club’s doors.

The club have also made applications for further grants which are pending approval.

But despite this, almost a year on and with the losses made each month adding up, MK Springers need further support to stay afloat.

Felicity said: “We’ve been unable to offer birthday parties and our half-term holiday club was understandably very poorly attended. These used to be a very profitable part of our offering. Our work in local schools has evaporated and we have had to severely limit the numbers attending our Parent and Toddler classes.

“When we reopened, we had to ask most of our staff to remain on part-time furlough.Our monthly turnover is about half of what it was a year ago. This means we are currently losing money even when we are open.

“We do have some cash in reserves but if lockdown continues beyond March then we will face having to shut the club by June 2021, which is a very sobering thought.”

Through surveys completed by British Gymnastics member clubs, 73% of respondents reported that

their club was currently at critical risk. Of those clubs 55% reported that at the time of the survey, their financial situation threatens closure of their facility.

Unfortunately, those figures are replicated across the country, in multiple sports. David Marshall, British Gymnastics Participation Director, said: “This has been a greatly challenging year for gymnastics clubs, managing themselves in and out of lockdowns, implementing new operations at short notice to meet Covid-19 guidelines, all whilst working to keep gymnasts engaged and active. They should be given huge praise for all they have achieved.

“However, the past 10 months have brought significant financial pressures with many now in a critical position. As our research shows, there is now an urgent need for clubs to be able to access funding to ensure they survive and can continue to provide vital services to their communities and gymnasts, many of whom are children who have already suffered so much during this time.”

MK Springers offers club classed for three to 18-year-olds as well as squad sessions for competitions. They also run Waddler to Toddler classes and after school and breakfast clubs at MK schools.

The club also offers coaching in schools under the School Sports Partnership and their scheme of work is being introduced into all the primary schools across Milton Keynes.