Volunteers help Aust charity get ready to open

Staff volunteers have been helping a South Gloucestershire charity get ready to open its doors and welcome children with complex needs to the UK’s first fully accessible fitness, play and leisure centre.

A team spent a day doing gardening and making practical improvements at Gympanzees in Aust. The charity is aiming to open its 43,000 sq ft leisure site next summer so it can cater for children and young people with a wide range of learning, sensory and physical needs.

Gympanzees will provide access to play, exercise and friendship to help improve physical health and mental wellbeing for an estimated 200,000 visitors a year.

Emily Thorn, Gympanzees’ Business Development and Operations Manager, said: “We’re so grateful to the National Grid volunteers who gave their time and energy to help with the vast outdoor space. Their support makes a huge difference — not just in transforming the grounds into somewhere welcoming, but in showing the power of community in helping us realise our vision. We can't wait until next summer when we will be opening our doors to the thousands of children, young people and families who so desperately need Gympanzees.”

The NGED team were supporting the charity as part of the company’s inaugural Global Grid for Good Day of Service. The Grid for Good Day of Service is part of the company’s social impact and community engagement initiative, dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities it serves. This programme focuses on supporting community resilience, increasing access to affordable energy, and developing the energy workforce.

Komie Jain, National Grid’s Global Head of Social Impact and Community Engagement, said: “I’m grateful for the impactful work our community partners are doing, working side-by-side with our volunteers, many of whom live and work in the communities we serve. Volunteering is not just about giving back, it’s about creating connections and strengthening communities.”

NGED have proudly delivered more than 17,000 volunteer hours to communities since the launch of its employee volunteering programme in April 2024.