Further Success at Wickers Gymnastics Club

Wickers Gymnastics Club has had a brilliant year with the building of the foam landing pit, the Annual Club Championships, Wickers Invitational, 2014 Awards Evening and the success of our Squad gymnasts.

Wickers has accomplished great success during this year’s competition season. The season kicked off with the Woman’s Artistic Regional Championships held on the 19th and 20th of September2014.  Though very tough competition the girls did fantastically well, and the Wickers gymnasts managed to get a 5th place in their Modified level 3 group as well as their prep 6 girls who are only 7 years old grabbing 3rd place Team winners.

 Chichester Floor and Vault competition held on the 28th of September for General Gymnastics squads was next up on the list. For some gymnasts this was their first competition and they all held their nerve and performed exceptionally well, winning over 30 medals!

On the 4th of October 2014 both Woman’s Artistic and higher level General Gymnastics squads were entered into the Sussex Championships. Wickers came out victorious with Four Sussex Champions. A massive well done to Lottie Barton who won a trophy for the highest general floor score of the day.

On the 19th of October it was the General Gymnasts turn to compete in the Regional Championships. Wickers entered 13 gymnasts, all gymnasts received top ten places and 9 received medals for top 3 places in their age groups and competitive level.

The final competition for the year was the Southbourne Beam and Vault Championships for Woman’s Artistic and General Gymnastics. This was held on the 23rd of November 2014 and as usual everyone had performed brilliantly. Wickers won almost every category they entered and managed to receive a total of 32 medals, 14 Gold, 11 Silver and 7 Bronze.

Katy Hodgson commented ‘We are extremely proud of all of our gymnasts, those who competed for the very first time, those who keep achieving every year and those who do it for fun and keep improving. We would like to thank the coaches, volunteers and parents who make it all happen and would like everyone at Wickers to keep up the hard work.   We are looking forward to another successful year in 2015, and all that it may bring!’

Wickers also has an Adult Gymnastics group, who train on Thursday and Sunday mornings and are very excited to be hosting their first in-house competition on the 21st of December. Good luck to everyone competing at this Christmas Competition.

Wickers is holding some Christmas activities, before the new term re-starts in January, please visit the website www.wickersgymnastics.co.uk to book into our fantastic holiday programme for children of all ages. Children do not have to be members of Wickers to join in the fun. If you are looking for a gymnastics party or information on classes for parent and child, preschool, junior or adult sessions please also visit the website. Please be aware that parties can be booked up very fast and we can take booking up to 6 months in advance.

Grants Available - Be the Business programme for 2014-2015

Following the success of the first round of the Be the Business start and grow grants, West Sussex County Council are pleased to announce that they have invested further in the Be the Business programme for 2014-2015. A pot of £180,000 is available to help businesses to start-up and to grow in West Sussex.

This programme is for start-ups, early-stage companies (1-2 years) and for established and growing businesses in West Sussex where, if applicable, the business rates are/will be paid. Businesses planning to relocate in West Sussex are also eligible but if successful, the grant will only be paid after relocation has taken place. The programme is open to micro and Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in West Sussex.

Applicants will be required to provide at least 50% of the total project costs as match-funding. The business proposal must be linked to the creation or safeguarding of jobs in West Sussex.

This year, 50% of the funding available will be dedicated to specific sectors we wish to encourage to come forward with their ideas, particularly to submit bids with other businesses in the same sector to address problems they have in common.

These sectors are:

• Manufacturing, particularly linked to healthcare, aviation or marine industry
• Low carbon and renewable technologies
• Tourism and local food
• Care
• Land based businesses

The remaining 50% of the fund will be open to applications from all sectors. Please note we reserve the right to change these allocations depending on demand.

The maximum amount of grant that can be requested for any individual project is £25,000. The maximum amount that can be requested for any sector project submitted in consortium is £75,000. Only sector projects can be submitted in consortium.

The list below gives some examples of the type of activities which could be eligible for grants:

• Purchase of machinery and equipment
• Premises refurbishment/expansion
• Feasibility work relating to business expansion
• Development and implementation of business strategies to improve sales and commercial performance
• Knowledge transfer-related activities
• Product development
• Efficiency improvements

For more information please visit www.bethebusiness.org/grants/

Rabbit Waste Management Ltd would like to inform fellow business park members we will be storing wood in part of the former Graham Woods site on a temporary basis  for use over the Christmas period. At the end of this period it will be reinstated to its former condition the week commencing  5^th January 2015. All the necessary exemptions have been put in place with the Environment Agency.

Mandy Bridson