Zojo’s Gymnastics have been awarded the insport Club of the month accolade due to their proactive approach to the programme.
The club provides gymnastics opportunities to disabled and non-disabled children in the Bridgend area. There are two sessions which include pre-school gymnastics for children between 2 and 4 years old and a 5 plus inclusive gymnastics session. Zojo’s was established in October 2015 and used the insport Ribbon model as a template to set up the club which made it inclusive from the beginning.
Zojos decided to use insport as a basis for their business model as Joanne Benson Davieson who set up the club explains, “My daughter has down syndrome and enjoys gymnastics so my initial reason was to find an avenue for her to get involved in a sport she loves locally at club level. I have also been working with Additional Need children and felt there was a need for a gymnastic session which was inclusive in the Bridgend area.”
The club achieved their insport Ribbon accreditation within the first four months of being operational. Zojos has 26 members which includes 20 disabled children and 6 non-disabled children who are siblings of the disabled members. Joanne said “Parents are delighted with the model. It is the first time many have seen their disabled and non-disabled children taking part in activity alongside each other or being a member of the same club. “
Zojo Gymnastics philosophy is to create a completely inclusive gymnastics environment for disabled people and their families, which they have created successfully in such a short space of time. The club worked in partnership with the Active Young People Department at Bridgend County Borough Council, “We spoke to the AYPD in order to source an appropriate venue and took advice on producing inclusive marketing material. We also offer leadership opportunities to the students in Bridgend following the AYPD’s Leadership Pathway as well as in house mentoring during leaders time” said ZoJo’s owner Joanne.
Insport have helped Zojos get started as they helped fund sessions and set up them up. Joanne said that without the help of insport the club would not be operational as they co-ordinated all advertising and marketing plus gave help and guidance.
After achieving insport ribbon so quickly and inclusivity being the key to Zojo’s values the next step for the club is to work through insport. Joanne said “We are now working towards our Bronze accreditation through insport. The sessions continue to be really busy so we are now working towards setting up as a club through British Gymnastics and starting our proficiency awards. We are really looking forward to developing the club. There are exciting times ahead.”
Michelle Daltry Disability Sport Wales, Partnership manager said "Congratulations to Zojo’s Gymnastics Club on the fantastic journey your club has been on so far. This targeted approach to inclusive gymnastics will undoubtedly increase the number of both disabled, and non-disabled, gymnasts in Bridgend”.
Gareth Walters, Sports Development Officer said " This is a new organisation that used the insport framework to actually formalise and set up the club. They are an inclusive club that have created an environment where disabled and non-disabled siblings can take part in gymnastics together and the response to this initiative has been great”
For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/ZoJos-Gym-Club-702949243139283/
