Youngsters at the Special Olympics City of Hull Gymnastics Club have been trying out a range of new equipment bought with funds from the Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust.
The Trust has given £944.40 to the group which operates from Sutton Village Gymnasium, Potterill Lane, Sutton, Hull. The funds have been used to buy soft equipment to enable the gymnasts to practice their forward and backward rolls and other inverted movements.
Johanna Billingsley, one of the coaches for the group, said: “This funding is very welcome and is making an enormous difference. The new equipment means we can increase the range of activities that the gymnasts can do as they can practice turning upside down without coaches having to lift them. It’s given everyone a real boost and is helping them to improve their skills.”
The Special Olympics City of Hull Gymnastics Club was established in 1989 by Elin Pipes. One of her daughters Sue has achieved five gold medals in past Special Olympic World Games, coached by her younger sister Judith Pipes. All are still actively involved in the club which has ten members.
The Club is part of the Humber Sports Partnership which strives to ensure that sporting opportunities are available to all, irrespective of gender, ethnic origins, age, socio economic status or disability.
Jo Hudgell, who heads The Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust, visited a training session in Sutton to meet the gymnasts and see the new equipment in use.
Jo said: “It’s wonderful to see these athletes gaining so much from gymnastics and clearly enjoying themselves. The dedication and enthusiasm of all those involved in Special Olympic City of Hull is marvellous. I am delighted that the Trust is supporting this very good cause.”
The Special Olympics City of Hull Gymnastic Club is among twenty three community projects which have shared more than £16,000 from the latest round of funding from The Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust. So far, the Trust has given grants totalling more than £75,000 to over 80 organisations since it was established in April 2012.
The Trust was set up to mark the 15th anniversary of Neil Hudgell Solicitors, specialists in compensation claims for personal injury, medical negligence and professional negligence. The firm, which employs 100 staff, serves clients in England and Wales from offices in Hull, Leeds, .
The Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust can give up to £60,000 a year, in grants worth up to £1,000 each, to good causes in Yorkshire which support local communities and promote sports, health, wellbeing and educational aspiration. The Trust is administered by the Hull and East Yorkshire Community Foundation.
Applications for funding are always welcome; more information is available from hudgellv2.wpengine.com/about-us/
