Both time and effort go into building a community, right? But how must it feel when everything seems shattered in front of you? I can’t even imagine. The same must have happened with the East London Gymnastics Club when they were asked to shut the doors as the building was going under development. But as they hoped for the best, the best would happen. ELGC also got their well-wishers in the form of Newham Council. 

The same scenario occurred with Arrow Lakes Gymnastics Club (ALGC) when a group of eight parents came forward to rescue it. The club also got a community grant to help it bounce back stronger. Both the clubs are powerful reminders of how grassroots efforts can rescue even straws from drowning. How did they both recover, you may ask?

Parents-turned-volunteers save the day for ALGC

According to the Arrow Lakes News, the Arrow Lakes Gymnastics Club (ALGC) is flipping back into action after a 15-year break, and it’s all thanks to some serious community hustle. It all started with president Amy Blatz, who had a lightbulb moment when she learned Nakusp used to have a gymnastics club way back when. “I used to be in gymnastics myself when I was a kid, and I know how I benefitted and really enjoyed it,” she shared. “I wanted to create some opportunities for the kids in town.” And just like that, an idea took flight.

Blatz discovered some old equipment stashed at the Nakusp and District Sports Complex and spotted potential in the auditorium space. With eight parents-turned-volunteers in tow, she held the first meeting in June. Reflecting on their whirlwind progress, she said, “We’ve done a lot in a really short amount of time.”  So, how did they get the cash rolling?

Their first big fundraiser—selling lemonade and popcorn at Nakusp’s July 1 celebrations—raked in an impressive $31,000, enough to kickstart the program. But the momentum didn’t stop there. When they put out a feeler for registrations, they got over 110 responses from Nakusp and beyond, reaching places like New Denver, Edgewood, and Trout Lake. Initially planning one class a week, the demand was so high they doubled it to two!

ALGC’s dream team includes nine coaches, a trained program director, and three junior coaches from Nakusp Secondary School. And the cherry on top? Their community sponsorship program crushed expectations, raising $15,000 instead of the $2,000 they hoped for. “The community has been amazingly supportive,” Blatz said.

The club also scored big with a $25,000 grant from the Nakusp & Area Community Foundation and smaller donations from local groups. Thanks to this outpouring of support, ALGC snagged new equipment like mats and a springboard to pair with the leftover bars, beams, and vaults. “We are grateful for everyone’s support. It really was, and is, a community effort!” Blatz said.

Starting in January 2025, ALGC will offer tumbling classes for all ages—think toddlers in Toddler Tumble (2–4 years) to teens and adults in a drop-in program. It’s a heartwarming reminder of what a community can do when it rallies behind a dream. This same type of community effort reminds us of the revival story of the East London Gymnastics Club (ECLA).

East London Gymnastics Club has recovered from financial loss

The East London Gymnastics Club (ELGC) faced a jaw-dropping twist when they got the news they’d have to pack up by the new year. Why? The venue’s freeholder sold it to a developer, leaving the charity-run club scrambling for options. They didn’t have the funds to buy the place outright, and that spelled bad news for the 2,500 people who relied on the club weekly. A gut punch! But then came a glimmer of hope: an Asset of Community Value (ACV) application.

The charity still went out of business despite raising a whopping £1.8 million. Ouch. Their last shot? Submitting that ACV application to Newham Council. Mayor Rokshana Fiaz chimed in with some hope, saying it could allow the charity to buy the building themselves to save it from redevelopment. Meanwhile, co-manager Kirk Zammit stayed optimistic: “We are hoping [Newham Council’s] ‘Asset of Community Value department’ grants us the right to the six months period to put forward our bid for the site and a chance to keep our beloved community asset and high performance gymnastics facility open for many years to come.” Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?

ELGC has been the beating heart of East London since 1997—a homegrown hub powered by National Lottery funding. It’s groomed Olympians, trained Tom Holland (yes, Spiderman himself), and welcomed over 2,500 people weekly for everything from gymnastics and taekwondo to yoga and pole fitness. And here’s the cherry on top: it’s ridiculously affordable compared to other London clubs. A total win for the community, right?

With the club’s future hanging by a thread, parents like Marina Sanduleac are making heartfelt pleas. Her daughter trains as an elite gymnast, and Marina’s got one message: help! “Everything is closing down one-by-one. We’re really seeking support from anybody, who can help us and can give us a hand to save it and give us a place around this area.”

Support has been pouring in, with thousands signing an online petition and Labour MP James Asser calling the potential closure a tragedy. But here’s the twist: Linea Homes, the developer, says they’re planning to retain the building and bring in a new tenant with significant health and social benefits. Sounds good on paper, but we’ve heard that song before—time will tell if they deliver. Let’s hope ELGC and ALGC stick their landings. Because when communities come together, the impossible suddenly seems a little less… impossible.