Dexterity Gymnastics Academy has been so successful that it’s outgrown its previous locations
A gymnastics academy that started with six members in a school hall will soon move into its new permanent home with 330 gymnasts. Dexterity Gymnastics Academy has gone from strength to strength since starting in 2010.
After expanding their team and outgrowing their previous homes, they are now excited and ready to move into their new base on the Melton Enterprise Park. Founder Jen Dexter said: “We’ve been operating for 15 years, we started in Kirk Ella St Andrews Primary School with six gymnasts, we grew quickly to 60 and then moved to Bishop Burton seven years ago.
“We now have 330 gymnasts. Bishop Burton’s main priority is college use and we can’t anchor the bars into the floor so we just need our own place.”
She explained: “We’ve been setting up and packing away the equipment with help from kind parents who I would like to thank because without them we couldn’t operate. But setting up and packing away the equipment every single session is obviously a massive strain on us, so now we are going to be able to just lock the door and it will just stay up.
“We are hoping to be moving in November dependent on the equipment suppliers and legal team. We are going to be opening with pre-school classes every day of the week, recreation classes every day of the week, our squad sessions, we’re going to have home school sessions, SEN sessions, parties, holiday camps, everything, it’s going to be amazing.”
At the new venue, gymnasts will have access to full men’s and women’s Olympic-standard equipment, including a full-size sprung floor, parallel bars, rings, high bars and beams. They will also have a foam pit and a 9m Acro trampoline and there will be a second set of equipment for the recreational gymnasts to use.
Jen explained her gymnastics background and how the not-for-profit Dexterity Academy was formed. “I started gymnastics when I was five years old at the local leisure centre,” she said.
“I watched Blue Peter when I was seven and saw the dream gym on there and then the dream was born, I’ve just wanted it ever since so we can offer the best gymnastics to everyone – including high level – which when I was younger wasn’t a possibility in Hull, the closest place was Leeds.
“I did my first coaching qualification at 15 and then my second one at 18. I then moved to Leeds for university and did a degree in PE and then started working at some high level gymnastics clubs. That opened my eyes to high level gymnastics and pushed the dream along to set my own gym up in 2010.”
The gymnasts were excited and full of energy as they explored their new home. Isabel Paddison, 13, said: “I’ve been with Dexterity for nearly five years, I enjoy it very much.
“I went to Cardiff recently for the British Disability Championships and I won. I got Gold on Floor, Bronze on Vault and Gold All Round. One of my medals has Olympic Gymnast Ruby Evans’ signature on it, she was there handing out the medals and signed it for me.
“I have multiple friends here and we all have fun and to finally have our own place makes us all really happy.” Seeing the new venue for the first time she added: “It’s really really lovely, I’m so happy, it’s so close to everything for me – it’s so close to my school and I can literally just bring my bike and come over here and do some coaching and everything which is really fun.”
Jen said: “None of this would be possible without the support of the British Gymnastics Club Capital Scheme. Their backing has been instrumental in helping us bring our vision to life, and we are so deeply grateful.
“This new chapter for Dexterity Gymnastics Academy is not just a milestone for us, but a testament to what can be achieved when grassroots clubs are empowered to grow, thrive, and serve their communities.”
As a not-for-profit club Dexterity offers gymnastics classes and holiday camps from walking age through to adulthood – welcoming every level, every ability and every story. They are appealing for help from the community to get up and running in their inclusive new home as soon as possible.
From electricians to joiners, skip hire to soft play donations, every offer of support brings them closer to moving in. Visit their Facebook page here