Story
Gympanzees believes every child and young person should have the right to play, get fit and healthy, and socialise. In the UK, 84% of families with a child with a disability can't access regular leisure and their health and well-being suffer unnecessarily. Whole families are stuck at home and 72% of parents suffer with mental health issues as a result of isolation.
We are an award winning, Bristol-based charity. Our vision is to build a permanent inclusive leisure facility in Bristol by 2025. As we work towards that, we are running Pop Up leisure facilities to help meet the needs of local families, raise awareness and raise funds to make this vision a reality.
WHAT IS GYMPANZEES POP UP?
We have already run three very successful Pop Up inclusive leisure facilities in Bristol (2018/2019) with nearly 4000 bookings for children and young people using the facility.
The children and young people who come to our Pop Ups have inclusive access to a gym, indoor playground, trampolines, two sensory rooms, soft play room, a music room and an accessible outdoor playground. There is also a café for everyone to enjoy, which gives a chance for families and friends to relax and socialise.
We offer different sessions to cater for differing needs as well as fully accessible grounds, exciting accessible and interactive play and exercise equipment, accessible toilets, changing places, hoists, volunteers and specialist staff who can support families; and we receive amazing feedback from the families who visit;
Gympanzees...what an amazing place. The best experience we've had for a long time. Lovely and quiet, lots to do and fab staff. Thank you so much for providing this amazing space and lovely resources and equipment for children who struggle to access other typical days out.
There have been some wonderful moments for the children and young people too: a six year old girl took her first independent steps in a walker two three year olds laughed for the first time and one five-year-old slept through the night for the first time following her hour and a half visit.
We need your support to replicate this success and to run Pop Ups in Bristol and the surrounding area every summer and Easter holidays until our main centre is completed.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can get involved in so many ways and help us raise funds for the continued success of these Pop Up facilities. Maybe a bake sale at work or school, a sponsored walk, run, cycle or swim, regular collection, book sale, a raffle or charity car wash! Or simply a donation. Your help and support will be greatly appreciated, not just by us, but by the families whose lives you are helping, like Natalie who told us:
This is an amazing place where my children can just be themselves without being judged. The staff are amazing and go above and beyond to make the children have a fantastic time.
HOW WILL YOUR GENEROSITY HELP?
Over the next five years of Pop Ups we expect to have 24,660 visitors. Once our main centre opens we expect over 7,000 visits per month. Donations from amazing people like you allow these children to play, get exercise and make friends and allow parents to meet others in a similar situation; helping reduce isolation for the whole family.
There is a difference between your child being tolerated and them being celebrated. Here it is so clear to see they are celebrated.
Find out more about Gympanzees via our social media below:
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