New sensory room a 'huge asset to the community'

Olympian Helen Glover (third left) opened the room after organisers received funding from Cornwall Council

A gymnastics club has opened a special education needs and disabilities (Send) facility.

Penzance Gymnastics Club CIC was awarded community capacity funding this year from Cornwall Council which it used to create room, organisers said.

They added that had worked closely with local community establishments for disadvantaged children and had bought a variety of specialised equipment to help people with many different needs.

Double Olympic gold medal rowing champion Helen Glover opened the room on Monday, saying: "It can be used by so many people, so many different parts of the nation are crying out for this kind of space and we have it here and have it invested in it's really exciting."

Glover added all three of her children went to the gym and enjoyed being a part of it.

She said: "You don't expect in the middle of Penzance to find this room which is a safe space for so many families this with additional needs, or those looking to find that space that calm [and] that quiet."

Penzance Gymnastics Club said the room was available for children, young people and adults.

Jenny, a mum who attended the opening with her son Jack said: "Having this sensory room now, I just think that's a huge asset to the community and it will benefit so many children and adults in the community."

She said Jack has been a member of the group for years and has autism and mild dyspraxia.

"The skills that he's learnt from this club... it's just absolutely let his confidence grow, and that's affected all other areas of his life," she said.

Jenny said it was a safe space for people to be themselves

"For Penzance Gym Club to have had the funding to do this I think is absolutely amazing," she said.

"It allows these children and adults who use the facility to be seen and have a safe space to be able to come to be themselves and to thrive."