We are thrilled to announce that Gympanzees has received an amazing grant of £500,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund!
Thanks to National Lottery players, this generous grant will significantly advance our mission to provide accessible exercise, play, and social opportunities for all children with disabilities and their families.
We are also excited to announce that this latest round of funding has brought the total raised for our #ProjectHomeAppeal to £4.5 million, out of the £8 million needed to open the Gympanzees Centre, the UK’s first fully accessible leisure facility for disabled children and young people.
The funding comes from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK.
Set to open in June 2026, the Gympanzees Centre aims to provide life-changing health benefits to over 200,000 visitors each year.
The centre will be unique as it will support all disabled children and young people who may be excluded from existing leisure activities. From those with the most severe physical disabilities to those who are autistic or have ADHD who can be incredibly active and seek movement, Gympanzees will give them somewhere to have fun and get active.
This funding will also allow Gympanzees to continue running our vital Lending Library service, which provides accessible exercise and sensory equipment to families at home, schools and groups.
Stephanie Wheen, Gympanzees CEO and Founder commented: “This incredible grant is a huge boost for our appeal for a permanent home and will help us continue our work supporting thousands of disabled children, young people and their families. A massive thank you to the National Lottery and their players, this is brilliant news for the families as we are one step closer to opening our doors.”
Thank you National Lottery Community Fund, from everyone at Gympanzees.
In 2023, Gympanzees purchased a £3.1m site to turn into a world-class facility for disabled children and young people. Now, we need to raise £8m to complete the necessary renovations to open this one-of-a-kind centre. We’re over halfway, but we’ve still got a long way to go.
