When the leisure centre home of world-renowned Deerness Gymnastics Club was facing closure, volunteers rallied round to take it over.

One year on, Mark Tallentire assesses their progress.

IT was February last year when a North-East council’s
plans to close six leisure centres, including Deerness,
in Ushaw Moor, came to light.

Eight months later, Durham County Council
closed Deerness – but only overnight – because Deerness Gymnastics Club reopened the venue the following day as a gymnastics academy.

The club’s worldwide success over the past 25
years can barely be put into words.

More than 80 international class gymnasts and more than 60 world and European medals – all from a
small County Durham village.

But sporting success does not necessarily spell
management intellect.

So, faced with running their own club, how have the
gymnasts fared?

“It’s been a tough year,” says Karl Wharton, academy
director of gymnastics.

“Taking over a big building and learning about health
and safety and all the things we needed to put in place to run it, it’s been a challenge.”

In the year of a home-turf Olympics, grants have been
hard to come by and often short-lived.

But there have been notable achievements, including gaining charitable status, launching gymnastics classes for all ages and transforming the ageing building at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.

Plus, the club has enjoyed arguably its most successful
year in competition – winning more European and world
medals and £100,000 on a TV talent show.

At least 800 people use the club weekly, opening hours
are increasing and it can draw on an army of more
than 100 volunteers.

Deerness is also about to recruit its first paid staff –
three coaches and a development officer.

So, is this evidence of David Cameron’s Big Society?

“It’s do-able,” Mr Wharton says, somewhat wearily.

“You have to be ready for the commitment – it’s massive. But it’s very rewarding.

“I feel proud when I walk through the building now. We kept it open, transformed it and we’re offering it to hundreds of children and adults every week.”

Visit deernessgymnastics.org.uk for more information.