Aspiring Gymsports (AGS) is pleased to announce a grant of $5,000 from New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) towards vital equipment upgrades.
The gym has raised close to $42,000 in 2021 for the purchase of new equipment including a competition grade Euro-trampoline, Parallel Bars, fitted mats and a beat board. This new equipment along with our new lead coaches Ranan and Emily Feit, plus new Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach Charlotte Gardiner, has allowed us to expand our programs, growing our membership base by 43 to 243 affiliated members in addition to 200 casual members in the first month of 2022.
AGS is embarking on a very exciting chapter as it enters its 20th year of operation in 2022. This July, we expect to move to a 750 sqm venue up from 200 sqm, establishing a gymnasium within the new Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) “Youth, Sports & Community Centre” This will be located within the old Mitre 10 building on Reece Crescent, Wanaka. Other community groups expected to take up residency in the centre include Kahu Youth and The Wanaka Community Workshop, among others.
AGS intends its new gym to be a sub-regional hub for gymnastics, giving us the opportunity to be able to run regional competitions and helping us become more financially sustainable whilst keeping our fees affordable. To achieve a gymnasium fit for such competitions and to meet with the required safety standards, AGS estimates it will need approximately $135,000 for fit out and equipment upgrades. AGS has a full year of fundraising ahead of us – so watch this space for new fun events and kid's activities.
"We’re so excited about our move to the new QLDC Youth, Community & Sports Centre in July 2022. This new facility will be central to the district’s after-school activities, and we hope to partner with Kahu Youth in offering joint programs"
Head Coach Rae Paterson
AGS wants to also take this opportunity to thank NZCT and our funders, but especially thank our active, involved family support base who have volunteered much of their time to help fundraise and physically run and build projects. Examples include the delivery and installation of equipment to improve our current gym, knocking walls down & painting, moving furniture, and installing our current ¾ sized sprung floor which took approximately a month and about twenty-five parents.
