A place can be sold, but what about the community flourishing in it? What’s the amount it can be priced at? I guess we’d never know. Recently, the East London Gymnastics Center (ELGC) in Beckton became a beloved center for a diverse range of athletes. It encountered the possibility of an uncertain future after the premises were sold to housing developers. It is set to lose its lease by the end of December 2024 as the charity managing ELGC couldn’t buy the freehold despite raising £1.8M. The center has become the focus of an enthusiastic campaign to secure its survival as a gymnastics community.

The legacy of ELGC runs deep. For more than 25 years, it has been an essential pillar of excellence. With a weekly service of over 2500 people with affordable training in gymnastics, taekwondo, yoga, and much more. It has nurtured world-class athletes and has inspired lives more than it could be counted, including Hollywood actor Tom Holland. Now, an Asset of Community Value (ACV) application offers a glimmer of hope for preserving this vital space for everyone.

Road map to secure the Center’s future

The threat of closure of the space emerged earlier this year. It was when the freeholder decided to sell the property to a housing developer—Linea Homes. Even after raising £1.8 million to bid for the freehold, the charity managing ELGC was outbid. Left with no other option, the charity submitted an ACV application to Newham Council, a crucial move to safeguard the space, hoping they approve it and they get time to save it.

Is 6 months enough to save the space? Well, every moment is important. In order to protect the space, the ACV designation, part of the Localism Act 2011, is looked upon. It protects community spaces by allowing the local community six months to prepare a bid for the site. Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz expressed her support, stating that approval of the ACV would give the charity a fair chance to reclaim the site. “This would give the charity the opportunity to buy the building themselves in order to save it from redevelopment,” she said. 

All in all, the co-manager of the center, Kirk Zammit, is very optimistic about the process, asserting, “We don’t feel like [the freeholder] could argue… it would be a true asset for the Newham borough and community.” With the decision still pending, the charity remains hopeful for a positive outcome,  which would allow it to bid and save the center from redevelopment and being sold to anyone else.

Gymnastics hub rescue: the more the merrier

When we talk about saving ELGC, what comes to our heads? A lot of things. But before that, more importantly, what does it mean to people? For them, it is more than just a gymnastics training facility; it is a lifeline for everyone across the borough. As it offers training at remarkably lower rates than other centers in London. It has made elite-level coaching accessible to everyone. The center has produced gymnasts for Team GB and international squads while providing a home for smaller clubs that lack their own dedicated space. 

7500 people! That’s the number of people who have signed the petition to save ELGC. It has received overwhelming support. Local MP James Asser has called its potential closure a tragedy. Parents of the athletes who used to practice there, like Marina Sanduleac, whose daughter trains as an elite gymnast, have spoken passionately about the center’s importance to cease. “For us, we need something in the borough for children because there’s nothing. Everything is closing down one-by-one,” she said. 

While Linea Homes has claimed its redevelopment plan will retain the building’s community purpose, concerns still linger about affordability and accessibility to everyone. Zammit stated, “We are hoping the council grants us the chance to keep our beloved community asset open for many years to come.” ELGC is filled with opportunities for everyone. Its inclusivity and excellence are known widely. It also has strong support from the community, local leaders, and council initiatives, and the fact’s known, there is hope that it can be saved. It will also continue to inspire future generations. The fight to save this amazing institution is the resilience of a community that is determined enough to protect its most valuable assets.