Testwood Gymnastics Club News page

September 11th 2011

A lot has happened over the summer and we have become an independent club again.

What does that mean?

For you - there is no increase in the fees, which remain at the same level as last year, and we have decided to allow a £10 reduction for second and subsequent children making it just a little easier for those with more than one child.

For us - a lot more paperwork to start with, but less in the long term and now done with our efficiency rather than that of others (!) We are already well advanced in our work towards obtaining the British Gymnastics 'Gym Mark' Award which will boost our chances when applying for grants to replace aging equipment and subsidies to help reduce the costs of coaching courses for our present and future Coaches.

Our Coaches will now have a more defined role with some of them extending one of the element rows to cover more progressions and tumbling through to 8.30pm. Each Coach will also now work with specific grades of gymnast.

We will still be entering Regional competitions (February, July and November) and arrangements are underway to enter at least one Inter-Club competition each year.

We have also been offered the use of three other club's facilities should we require additional training on specialised equipment, which will be useful as we approach competitions.

Clubs such as ours only thrive with the help of many other people. We are fortunate to have a number of volunteers who help assist in the smooth running of the Club, but there is always room for more! We are always looking for new ideas - perhaps yours may be the ones we need.

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GYMNAST'S HANDBOOK
Click here to download the up to date Gymnast's Handbook.

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WELFARE OFFICER
Until March 2012, our Welfare Officer is Rebecca Bremner 023 9234 1771

COMPLAINTS
Testwood Gymnastics Club is committed to providing a safe, stimulating, consistent and accessible service to children and their parents/carers. We always aim to provide high quality services for everyone, but accept that sometimes things do not always go to plan. In such circumstances, we want to know so that we can put them right and learn from our mistakes.

Usually it should be possible to resolve any problems as soon as they occur. If not then the parent/carer should follow the formal complaints procedure set out below. Under normal circumstances the Club Coach in charge of the session will be responsible for managing complaints.

Stage One

If a parent/carer has a complaint about some aspect of the club’s activity, or about the conduct of an individual member of staff, it will often be possible to resolve the problem by simply speaking to the individual concerned and/or the Club Coach in charge of the session. The club is committed to open and regular dialogue with parents/carers and welcomes all comments on its services regardless of whether they are positive or negative. Please try to make any complaints at an appropriate time (i.e. end of session/change over times).
If a satisfactory resolution cannot be found then stage two of the procedure will come into operation.

Stage Two

If informal discussions of a complaint or problem have not produced a satisfactory resolution to the situation, parents/carers should put their complaint, in writing, to the Head Coach. Relevant names, dates, evidence and any other important information on the nature of the complaint should be included.
The Head Coach will acknowledge receipt of the complaint as soon as possible and fully investigate the matter within 15 working days. If there is any delay the Head Coach will advise the parent/carers of the reasons. The Head Coach will keep you up to date with what is happening and will give a full reply.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome you can ask the Head Coach to refer the matter to the Club Management Committee (CMC).

Stage Three

The Head Coach will refer the complaint and response to the CMC. The CMC will investigate the complaint together with the response at a specially convened meeting.
The CMC will acknowledge receipt of the complaint as soon as possible and fully investigate the matter within 15 working days. If there is any delay the CMC will advise the parent/carers of the reasons. The CMC will keep you up to date with what is happening and will give a full reply.
The response will be copied to the staff members concerned with recommendations for any actions to be taken and any amendments to club policies or procedures emerging from the investigation.
The Chair of the CMC will send a reply within four weeks outlining how the complaint was investigated and detailing the outcome.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can raise the complaint to British Gymnastics.

Contacts
Head Coach: Paul Barden 07946 592690

Welfare Officer: Rebecca Bremner 023 9234 1771 until March 2012,
then April Pemberton Teer 07786 737221 and Amanda Wilcox 07917 117182

British Gymnastics Ethics & Welfare Department: 0845 129 7129 ext 2346