Good news as inspirational Gympanzee’s children’s charity hits amazing £2m mark for its UK-first centre

By Jill Dando News

Gympanzees, a Bristol-based multi-award-winning has secured £2m towards its Project Home appeal to open a purpose-built leisure centre for disabled children. 

The Gympanzees Centre will provide disabled children, young people, and their families with a safe space to exercise, have fun, and socialise with others.

It will be the first of its kind in the UK and will welcome over 200,000 visitors annually. 

The centre plans to open its doors to families in 2026, with the support and generosity of existing and new donors across England and Wales. 

Gympanzees have, over the last 5 years, been testing and evaluating Pop Up sessions across Bristol for the 66,000 children and young people with disabilities and their wider families.

They have received fantastic support from the wider community, and their current Pop Up is in its second week at Venturers Academy which has allowed them to use their venue free of charge.

The mission at Gympanzees is to deliver multiple fully inclusive leisure facilities that are easily accessible for disabled children, young people and their families; meeting exercise, play and social needs.

There are one million disabled children and young people in the UK.

77% of families with a disabled child can’t access regular leisure and their health and well-being are suffering as a result. 72% suffer from mental health difficulties as a result of isolation.

Amazing Vision

The vision at Gympanzees is that every disabled child and young person in the UK can enjoy a life filled with exercise, play and friendship. They plan to achieve this by building the first Gympanzees in Bristol

This will be the country’s first, fully inclusive leisure facility which will cater for the play, exercise and social needs of the 66,000 disabled children and young people within an hour of Bristol.

They have received 21,000 visitors over the last five years, and our feedback has been incredible. 

One of the families who have attended Pop Up is Mum Gemma, oldest son Tyler (18) and younger son Max (4) from Kingswood in Bristol. 

They have attended Pop Up over four years and mum said “There are not many things to do together as a family that are safe and offers activities for both children.

“The staff are extremely helpful and if they see me struggling, they will help me with Max. It is just such a great place for them both.

“As a mum I can let them run around and I do not get stressed out. Going to our local park is not an option for us as it just does not work for Tyler and Max’s needs, and, visiting Pop Up is not dependant on what the weather is doing, and the sessions are never overcrowded, other sensory spaces are extremely busy and not relaxing.” 

Gemma added “As well as Pop Up I have borrowed several pieces of equipment through the Lending Library to use at home, another service Gympanzees offers.” 

When Gemma was asked what a permanent centre would mean to her and her family she said 

“It would be awesome, as we can only visit Pop Up during the Easter and Summer holidays and to be able to access this all year around and have a stable base, knowing what and where all the rooms are would give Tyler the routine he really needs and quality time playing with his brother.

“Although Tylers interests have changed as he ages, we know he loves Pop Up. It also allows carers to attend, giving me a break.” 

Tyler communicates through BSL (British Sign Language), and Gemma asked Tyler what the best thing about Pop Up was and Tyler said “Everything is so much fun, I like the Gym room best, I like the vibrating plate, the treadmill, and the horse. I also like the Llama” to which Gemma laughs. 

Gemma added “When we arrive, I always have to find the Lhamo first, and it helps Tyler settle in each of the rooms (The Llama is an electronic dancing toy that plays music). 

The 14-acre site at Aust includes a 43,000sqft building with seven acres of green land, a woodland and five hundred parking spaces. The stunning site looks out over the old Severn Bridge and is easily accessible for families in the Southwest and Wales.  

 Purchasing the site is one huge step forwards for the charity. Until now, they have been running events in the Easter and summer holidays in special schools.

These are smaller versions of the proposed centre and have been running for 5 years with over 21,000 visitors welcomed in 130 days, with some families travelling for 6-hour round trips for their 1.5-hour session.

They have also seen some incredible health and well-being benefits, such as a 12yr old sleeping through the night for the first time after her session and many young people making a new friend for the first time.  

Gympanzees are launching the next part of their fundraising appeal so they can completely refurbish and fit out their newly acquired building with ten different specialist exercise and activity rooms and spaces, with therapy rooms, exercise studios and a community cafe.

Phase 1 aims to raise £8 million and phase 2 a further £2.8 million. Their appeal is called Project Home.  

 Stephanie Wheen, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and Founder of Gympanzees said “We have achieved this mammoth first step in fundraising and are overwhelmed at the generosity of our supporters who have raised an incredible £2m, now we need to start the next stage of demolition to create a safe, accessible and fully inclusive much-needed centre for families.

“So please get in touch if you can support our Capital Appeal, whether through fundraising, volunteering, gifts, or services in kind, or simply by spreading the word and connecting us with your networks, help us to open our doors to the first leisure facility for disabled children and young people in the UK” 

The Gympanzees centre will be designed to cater for children and young people with the most severe physical disabilities who require support for all their needs and movements through to those with autism and ADHD who can be incredibly active.  

If you would like to know more or how to get involved, please visit www.gympanzees.org/appeal.