A gym club has received a £48,400 cash boost to install a foam-filled pitted landing area and more apparatus.

Wickers Gymnastics in Lancing is launching free taster sessions for locals to celebrate the National Lottery funding from Sport England.

This news will ensure that the club continues to grow, develop new training programmes and create opportunities for children and young people to develop new skills.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: “I am delighted that Wickers Gym has been awarded these funds as it is vital that we continue to build on the huge success of the Olympics last year and encourage children and young people in the area to participate in all sports.

“The new funding and taster sessions will enable Wickers to reach out further to young people to try their hand at gymnastics and potentially discover new talent for the future.”

Sport England has revealed that more than 1,300 local sports projects across the country have now received National Lottery funding through Inspired Facilities, part of its Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme.

Sport England’s chairman, Nick Bitel, said: “A year on from the Olympics, this National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy in Lancing.

“With investment now on offer from our Inspired Facilities Fund until 2017, we look forward to supporting many more sports clubs in the South East who play such a vital role in grassroots sport.”

Club director, Katy Hodgson, said the club were delighted at the funding.

She said: “We feel very privileged to have secured this funding from Sport England and are very excited about the opportunities that this project will bring to the club.

“By enhancing the quality of the facility it will enable the club to continue its sporting legacy within the local community.

“It will ensure that the children and young people from the local and surrounding area have increased access to a high quality gymnastics facility for many years to come.”

This year the club is celebrating its 25th birthday and during this time it has inspired thousands of young people to participate in gymnastics and has supported numerous young people to become gymnastics coaches.

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