4 minute read
Gympanzees is aiming high
Gympanzees
IS AIMING HIGH
GYMPANZEES AIMS TO OPEN THE UK’S FIRST FULLY INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE EXERCISE AND LEISURE DESTINATION FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
Founded by paediatric physiotherapist, Stephanie
Wheen, Gympanzees incorporates physiotherapy and occupational therapy principles to allow the 84% of children and young people with disabilities who cannot access regular leisure facilities to enjoy exercise, play and friendship.
Currently, in its early stages, Gympanzees has facilitated three pop up versions of its permanent centre in Bristol, to prove the concept while developing a fundraising strategy for the first permanent centre.
These pop ups have seven main rooms – soft play, indoor playground, trampolines, gym, calm sensory room, active sensory room and a music room as well as a sociable cafe. With sensory integration equipment amongst the extensive variety of disability and regular equipment placed throughout, each room is tailored to ensure every person accessing it is achieving physical exercise, building on gross and fine motor skills, or to stimulate and meet individual sensory needs. Experienced staff are placed throughout the centre to interact with visitors and facilitate the best use of equipment and the most engaging time. 97% of the almost 4000 visitors across the 58 days of the pop ups have expressed that they love Gympanzees and would come again. Visitors have travelled up to a 5-hour round trip to visit the pop ups, with some people staying overnight and turning the experience into a holiday.
Some highlights from Gympanzees so far
• 52 visitors have experienced the sensation of walking thanks to machines such as the Innowalks and Upsees • A 15-year-old boy with quadriplegic
CP has since joined his local gym as he enjoyed it so much and gained the confidence to go • A 6-year-old boy walked on the treadmill for 12 minutes and then walked on his own for 10m when previously he had only managed a couple of steps • One boy with sensory issues opened one of his hands and played in the sand for the first time through interactive play with a member of staff • A three year old boy had his first ever laugh • Many examples of motor skills improving, balance and coordination improvements and children sweating or exercising for the first time • Many examples of children with autism or sensory processing problems being happier, calmer, more confident and being actively sociable with strangers and their family Gympanzees are continually working to become more accessible, with the introduction of adult sessions outside their original 0-25 age range, as well as studio-style spaces for disability sport, dance classes and rooms for physiotherapists. While they work towards the first permanent centre, they will continue to run pop ups in the school holidays in Bristol to ensure the need for affordable, fun, physical and sensory activity is being met. We want every family to feel like the parent who commented.
To follow the Gympanzees journey, find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @GympanzeesUKor sign up to their newsletter on www.gympanzees.org.
Wilbur Wheels
JIM AULT SHARES WITH US, HIS INSPIRATION FOR THE CREATION OF THE CHARACTER ‘WILBUR WHEELS’
From a long term career of working within the disability industry, as a wheelchair engineer, part of my daily routine involved visits to repair and upgrade wheelchairs and associated equipment for children and young adults. It was during these visits, especially with the younger children, I noted a distinct lack of a representational character, the children could associate with, and perhaps, ultimately learn from. Clearly, there were established fictional television and comic book characters, but none directly related to disabled children from whom they could truly enjoy and relate to. With my knowledge of wheelchairs, seeing how the children function in both school and home environments, combined with an insight into their day to day routines and activities they enjoyed, I set about creating a unique character just for them. My artistic background gave me the foundations I needed to create a fun loving little boy who, along with his friend, would enjoy adventures while learning life’s skills along the way.... WILBUR WHEELS was born! From an equally enthusiastic and supportive response from the Kidz to Adultz team, Wilbur Wheels the first, of a two-part cartoon adventure is launched to you, the reader!
