JCP Steps in To Help Gymnastics Centre Get Back on its Feet

Regional law firm, JCP Solicitors, has advised a community sports centre in Swansea on a deal which has saved it from closure.

Swansea Gymnastics Centre, has nurtured both Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, as well as young enthusiasts since 1977, was faced with closure due to the old site being in a poor state of repair, which included a hefty bill for roof repairs in order to make the centre fully functional.

The Centre made some successful appeals for financial backing and were awarded £313,000 funding from the Welsh Assembly, £37,500 from Sport Wales and £10,000 Community Trust funding from Swansaid. Their growing community of coaches, parents and gymnasts also raised a further £6,000 through fundraising. With the assistance from JCP Solicitors an agreement was made on a new site – an 18,000 square foot warehouse that has been converted into a dedicated Gymnastics Centre in nearby Celtic Trade Park

Head of Property Services and Director at JCP Solicitors, Chris Davies, said: “Swansea Gymnastics Centre is very much part of the local community here and it does so much to support grassroots sport. The club is particularly notable because it offers space for professional athletes and enthusiasts to train and to improve side by side. 

“We were delighted to be able to assist them in setting up a new state-of-the-art facility which safeguards their future. JCP is always happy to help keep valuable community assets on their feet and I’m very glad to hear they are thriving now.”

Gareth White, one of the directors of Swansea Gymnastics Centre, said: “With no financial help and with a building that wasn’t fit for purpose we were facing closure. It was very sad, considering we had more than 650 enthusiastic members and a great history of sporting achievement and excellence.

“We are in a better position now that we have ever been thanks to help from JCP Solicitors, and to some very generous funding from Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Swansaid, and, of course, our valued members who have really rallied round. We are very much looking forward to our new term which is starting now and I’m happy to say our membership has gone up by around 20 per cent since this problem began – that feels like a real vote of confidence from the public in Swansea.” 

From left: Gareth White (Swansea Gymnastics Centre), Chris Davies (JCP Solicitors), Sandra White (Swansea Gymnastics Centre) & Sarah Davies (JCP Solicitors)