New-Venue-Marsh-House
We will use this page to keep you updated with exciting developments with our biggest ever development – moving into our own dedicated facility!
In February 2016 we expressed an interest in taking an asset transfer of Marsh House Sports Block (MHSB) which was formerly the sports block of Billingham Campus School – the venue we trained in before moving to SRC.
After discussions with a number of other organisations we asked OnSite Buildings Trust to take the main lease of the building in the transfer with us leasing a sports hall, disused swimming pool and changing rooms. Working with OnSite and with the support of British Gymnastics and Sport England a formal bid was submitted to Stockton Borough Council for the transfer which was approved by the council’s cabinet on 21/06/2017.
Impact
We plan to move to the new facility as it will provide us with 24/7 access to use the facility and gives us significantly more space than we have at the minute. This will not only allow us to extend our trampoline provision to additional days and start classes earlier but will allow us to deliver classes during the school day and provide parties to members of the public. The additional space will allow us to start gymnastics classes which are in incredibly high demand. There are also a number of disciplines not offered locally and will appeal to a much wider range of participants such as freestyle gymnastics classes targeted at teenage boys and fitness classes targeted at teenagers and adults.
We plan significant refurbishment work on our area of the building to develop it into an outstanding training venue for gymnastics and trampolining. Ultimately we plan to have 7 trampolines, a pit, two DMTs, gymnastics floor, beam, bars, vault and air track.
Our plans are split into three phases:
Phase 1 – remove large sections of the wall between the sports hall and swimming pool to make one large space. Once complete we will submerge 7 trampolines into the disused swimming pool. This section should be completed by the end of August allowing us to deliver existing trampoline classes from the new venue. At this point spectators would view from within the gymnastics hall and participants would use the centre’s main changing rooms and toilets.
Phase 2 – purchasing gymnastics equipment to allow delivery of new disciplines, installation of a foam pit to allow the safer development of new skills, installation of a mezzanine floor as a spectator area and kitchen area to provide a more comfortable spectator area.
Phase 3 – refurbishment of the changing rooms and associated rooms giving us our own dedicated entrance to the building with reception area, new toilet and changing facilities and a multi-purpose room which could be used for additional fitness classes or as a classroom to develop new coaches and judges.
Funding
We have already made significant investment in qualifying more coaches than we have ever had before in more disciplines than we have ever had before. We have started phase 1 using existing club funds and a bank loan. In order to progress with phases 2 and 3 we require external funding. Sport England are interested in the project and are working with us to develop the strongest bid possible. Even with an award from Sport England we still need to source a further £60,000 to complete the three phases. If you are aware of any funding or business sponsorship opportunities please let us know by emailing joanne_rear@velocitysports.org.uk .