Million pound donation from Bristol legend to help disabled children

The dream of creating Britain’s first fully accessible exercise and play facility for disabled children and young people has received a massive boost – in the form of a single donation of GBP1 million. The donation, from the John James Bristol Foundation, now means Bristol-based charity Gympanzees are almost halfway towards their ambitious campaign to raise GBP8 million to convert the old motorway services next to the Severn Bridge [1] at Aust into a unique facility in the country. Gympanzees have now raised GBP3.8 million of that GBP8 million thanks to the million pound boost, and say they are getting nearer the target to create a one-of-a-kind centre which will feature ten activity rooms and spaces with world-class disability equipment.

“We are thrilled to share this momentous step forward in our fundraising towards our capital appeal and would like to express our deepest gratitude to the John James Bristol Foundation for their support,” said Stephanie Wheen, the chief executive and founder of Gympanzees. “This pledge will help enormously towards the strip out and redevelopment of the building, delivering a world-class facility, the first of its kind in the UK,” she added. At the moment there are around 1.5 million disabled children in the UK, including 90,000 within an hour’s travel time of Bristol.

The location, next to the Severn Bridge [2], will be accessible for disabled children from South Wales, the Midlands and the South West, and once it is open, Gympanzees expect more than 200,000 visits from disabled children, young people and their families every year. Gympanzees currently run pop-up sessions around the region. Gemma brings her son Beau, and says it would be great to have somewhere to bring Beau to have fun in a play setting, without worrying what other parents will think.

Gympanzees currently run pop-up gym and play equipment sessions for disabled children in the Bristol area but have ambitious GBP8m plans to convert the former Aust Services on the M48 next to the Severn Bridge, near Bristol, into a permanent facility (Image: Natasha Hirst)

“Gympanzees is needed because there is such a lack of provision for children with additional needs, especially having somewhere that is focused on being fun and active, not just medical needs or development,” she said.

“As a parent, I’m constantly anxious, watching out for other people’s looks. At Gympanzees, I don’t need to worry about that, everyone gets it, and Beau can be himself,” she added. The John James Bristol Foundation was created from the legacy of John James, who was born into poverty in Bedminster [3] in 1906 and made his fortune first in radio shops and then in light engineering and manufacturing.

He set up charitable foundations which still run to this day, almost 30 years after his death.

It supports initiatives that enhance the lives of Bristol residents, focusing on areas such as education, health and the elderly

“We are delighted to support Gympanzees with their building costs for this unique centre, knowing this will help hundreds of thousands of disabled children and young people from Bristol and beyond access much-needed exercise, play, and sensory experiences,” said the foundation’s chief executive Nicola Prosser.

References

^ convert the old motorway services next to the Severn Bridge (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ location, next to the Severn Bridge (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
^ Bedminster (www.bristolpost.co.uk)