Bouncing back: Northampton-based trampoline club welcomes members back with phased reopening

A Northampton-based trampoline club is welcoming members back for the first time in over five months with a phased reopening.

Northamptonshire Trampoline Gymnastics Academy was forced to close its doors for the first time in its 43 year history in March as the lockdown came into effect.

Now, gymnastics clubs have been given the green light to resume training from July 25, the club has stepped up preparations to welcome back members safely over the summer.

Managing director Harvey Smith said: "We have spent the last four months planning for our return. Whilst it’s been a very concerning time for everyone we’ve remained positive and taken steps to ensure that our members and coaches have a club to come back to.

"Our coaches have been fantastic in engaging with members and we’ve received so many messages of support and kind words from our families, I think it has brought us all closer in many ways."

New measures in place include a "thorough" cleaning regime, specialist disinfecting equipment, clear markings to ensure social distancing and hand sanitising stations across the gym.

Visitors are also having their temperature checked with a designated isolation area for anyone reading too high.

The Academy restarted training with Senior Great Britain trampolininst Andrew Stamp, who trains at the Northampton club, at the end of July before welcoming back their cohort of around 100 competitive members in August.

September will also see the reintroduction of community and pre-school members, however participant numbers have been limited to allow for social distancing.

The Club’s Disability Programme, which runs 25 hours every week catering for 80 members with additional needs, will begin to resume in consultation with the individual groups, organisations and day centres.

Harvey said: “A phased reopening has been fantastic in giving us a working opportunity to ensure all our new processes are working efficiently. We have made a few tweaks already which proves it was the right thing to do.

"With no competitions or events now until next year at the earliest it gives us a great opportunity for some development and new skills time which is always challenging to fit in when the competitions come thick and fast.

"It has been a delight to start welcoming back our members and we can’t wait to see more in the coming weeks. It’s particularly amazing how resilient the children have been so far and they have really taken to the ‘new normal’ surprising well”.

Northamptonshire Trampoline Gymnastics Academy train at a purpose built Trampoline Centre on Kings Park Road, Moulton Park, offering Gymnastics & Trampoline Classes for people of all ages and abilities. For more information visit www.ntga.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01604 645120.