A GROUP of young gymnasts are turning somersaults after securing funding.

Stainsby School of Gymnastics in Stockton has more than 400 members aged between three and 18-years-old who are drawn from across Teesside, and specialises in sports acrobatics and tumbling.

It was one of the first clubs in the country to achieve British Gymnastics’ GymMark accreditation in recognition of being a safe and child-friendly club.

The club has now received a grant of almost £3,000 from Newcastle Building Society to enable it to buy pads for use around the gym’s 25m competition track, fast track, practice tracks and trampoline.

Jayne Bennison, chair of the club’s fundraising group, said: “Sports acrobatics and tumbling naturally comes with a degree of risk attached and we try to minimise this to create the safest possible environment.

“Our members build up a lot of speed as they travel along our different tracks, especially those who are competing at elite level, so having suitable safety mats in place is absolutely essential.

“The parents’ fundraising group does a huge amount of hard work to bring in the money we need, but with specialist equipment obviously being expensive, donations such as this one make a big difference to what we can offer.”

Kimberley Saunders, manager at Newcastle Building Society’s Middlesbrough branch, said: “The Stainsby gymnasts’ skills are quite amazing and the school is a terrific example of everything that a community sports club should be.”