A GROUP of Swindon gymnasts are appealing for funding to help them continue in the sport.

In total, 13 young gymnasts and their coach have set out on the bold venture to set up a new acrobatic gymnastics club in the town.

The group currently train alongside Esprit Gymnastics but, due to a lack of space, the club are unable to accommodate both acrobatic and rhythmic gymnastics.

Therefore, coach Nikita Sukhanov plans to set up a new group, although funds are badly needed to help them do so.

Initially, the group plan to hire a hall at the Oasis Leisure Centre, but their long-term aim is to find a facility with a sprung floor which will support the type of gymnastics they do.

The group have set up a Go Fund Me page in order to raise funds, with more than £2,000 having been donated in the first four days.

Posting on their Go Fund Me page, the group stated: “We are a group of 13 hard-working and ambitious acrobatic gymnasts.

“Since March 2017 and until very soon, we have been training at Esprit Gymnastics Centre.

“After a hard decision, our coach has decided it is time for us to leave this gym. We want to continue training and working towards our goals. Our best option is to train at a hall in a leisure centre.

“It is a basic hall with just mats and no sprung floor. This will set back our progress but we will continue working hard.

“Our aim is to raise money so we can purchase new equipment which will help us train.

“One of our best achievements is having a pair from our club win the NDP finals, which is the equivalent to British Championships.

“In addition, four our partnerships have won the South West Championships, resulting in them qualifying to go to NDP finals and getting good results.

“Investment will help grow the club to include recreational gymnastics and reinstate our development squad.”

Anyone wishing to donate can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-our-dreams-alive.