A business which was set up to provide recreational fitness sessions has entered its tenth year with an event to raise funds and to celebrate a boom in membership to more than 700 people.
Goldstar Active welcomed members and business sponsors to the Cucina restaurant in Hessle for an event which raised more than £1,000 towards the cost of new competition leotards for its elite squad of gymnasts.
Added to other recent funding, the money will help the club work towards welcoming more people and offering even more activities.
Laura Kitney, who founded Goldstar Active in 2010 with Caroline Woodcock, said: “We now have the opportunity to bring Goldstar to the fore of our local community and provide easier access to our facilities for all across many disciplines of gymnastics including women’s artistic, men’s artistic, general, preschool, trampoline, freestyle, cheerleading and team gymnastics.”
Laura and Caroline have a combined experience of almost 40 years in teaching gymnastics to local people. They began by coaching recreational classes from South Hunsley Sports Centre and, as the membership grew, branched out into other local venues with classes at South Cave Sports Centre, Cottingham Pavilion and Warners Health Club.
A major breakthrough came in July 2017 when the club opened its own premises, with a purpose-built facility in Willerby which attracts members from as far as South Cave and Beverley.
Laura said: “Hiring hall space meant that we were always dependent on availability, dictated time slots, opening times and storage space and we soon recognised that our own premises were needed to support our continued expansion.
“Since moving we have seen rapid growth with the number of gymnasts increasing from 200 to over 700. We have also been able to branch out into other sports disciplines offering both trampoline and dance classes and now classes for all ages and abilities from birth to adulthood and beginner through to competitive pathways.”
Driven by a desire to create a fun and friendly setting and to provide fitness for the whole family, the owners reinvest profits back into the business to maximise the value of grants and fund-raising events.
The event at Cucina was organised by club member Anna Ashbee and attracted more than 40 people, with the restaurant devising a special menu for the evening and money being raised by special cocktails and by a raffle of prizes donated by local businesses.
Caroline said: “We are very grateful for fundraising events like this one, with special thanks to Anna Ashbee for all of her efforts and to the businesses who have kindly donated prizes for our amazing raffle.
“These events enable us to continue providing new equipment which helps us to develop our gymnasts to the next level and support the fast progression of talent within the club. This has been seen recently at a national level with success at competitions around the country.”
