Local charity Gympanzees is developing a new fully inclusive play and exercise centre in Bristol, UK. The charity runs pop-up sessions in the city during school holidays and now intends to open a permanent venue. The goal is to open in 2026, but CEO and founder Stephanie Wheen said that if all the funds were in place in time, the new centre would be open to the public by 2025.
The new location will accommodate every type of disability, with rooms and equipment designed to meet different requirements. With 14 acres of land, including seven acres of woods and greenery, the new centre will have the capacity to serve more than 200,000 children and young people up to the age of 25 each year. It will be completely furnished and include a music room, soft play area, trampolines, gym, and swing room, as well as a quiet sensory zone.
See also: Accessibility for all at Morgan’s Wonderland
Former motorway service station to be repurposed
Multiple studio spaces will be available in addition to a physio and therapy area. Families wishing to borrow accessible equipment will have a designated pick-up and drop-off point for the charity’s lending library, which is already available year-round.
The site earmarked for the new development is the former motorway service station at Aust, near the M48 Severn Bridge. The Gympanzees centre will provide a safe space to exercise, have fun and socialise, says the charity. It has already secured £3.3m of funding to transform the site.
