Aspiring young gymnasts in Penryn are benefitting from a new state-of-the-art gymnasium which has just opened with the support of bank funding.

Penryn Gymnastics Centre secured £329,000 worth of funding from NatWest which has enabled it to buy and refurbishment larger premises on the Kernick Industrial Estate.

Funding has been used to transform the commercial unit into a fit-for-purpose gymnastics centre, with additional capacity for trampoline and parkour areas. A dance studio will be added later in the year.

Founded in 2015 by Jill Punter, a member of Team GB’s gymnastics support team at Rio 2016, the centre offers classes for children of all abilities aged from four to adults. It has a current membership of 500 with squad gymnast training up to 18 hours a week.

The new premises will increase member capacity to 650 and create up to four new coaching positions, adding to its 13-strong training team. The business has an annual turnover of £200,000 which is growing as membership increases.

Jill, director of Penryn Gymnastics Centre, said: “We are more than a local business, as we work closely with the local community driving forward an active lifestyle and promoting the benefits of sport. The funding from NatWest will enable us to offer Olympic-standard training to gymnasts and provide access to more sports such as parkour to young people in the area. We are hoping to provide space to community groups when our dance studio is completed.”

Kevin Rees, relationship manager, NatWest, said: “With its new fit-for-purpose premises, Penryn Gymnastics Centre will be able to help more young people enjoy gymnastics and may even help some realise their dream of representing Team GB."