Helen Sampson
play a part in building a more accessible location. Since the organization is a registered charity in England and Wales, they’re fundraising to complete the multi-million- pound project, Project Home. Just within one hour of Bristol, there are 66,000 children and young adults living with disabilities. Most of these people, around three quarters of them, don’t have regular access to recreational facilities. That means not enough play, not enough exercise, not enough friend time, and not enough fun for around 49,500 kids and young adults near Bristol. The problematic part with disabilities is that they are just as unique as personalities, which is the reason families can get exhausted trying to find the right solution. But Wheen has attempted to solve this problem by truly co- designing with families. With a permanent hub open seven days a week, Gympanzees will give families access to all the facilities they need. In the meantime, Gympanzees is providing fun, safe, calm, social pop-up spaces for kids and young adults with disabilities to be themselves at their own pace.
Roadshow Bath
“I’d love to see things like Gympanzees
everywhere, to be honest... I just think it’s something that all children should be able to access.”
The opportunities provided by Gympanzees is so critical because they improve the quality of life among children, young people, and their families. That’s why Wheen wants to ensure more families have access to those opportunities. “We’re building the first Gympanzees main facility on the outskirts of Bristol, and the plan is that once the first one is built, we will go nationwide,” she says. This will be the next chapter of Gympanzees’ unrelenting story and
Like all kids, children with disabilities need regular physical activity to control weight, improve cardiovascular fitness, build strong muscles and bones, reduce the risk of developing health conditions, and reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. That’s why experts recommend 60 minutes of physical activity a day. But researchers at the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal report that kids with disabilities rarely get that amount.
@GYMPANZEESUK /GYMPANZEES @GYMPANZEESUK /GYMPANZEESUK
-PARENT OF A GYMANZEES PARTICIPANT
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