A charity that is building the UK’s first play centre for disabled children has reached its latest fundraising target. The Gympanzees Centre is being created in the former Aust Services, beside the M48 and the Severn Bridge, and is expected to open in spring 2027.
The site
The disused motorway service station at Aust, in South Gloucestershire, has been empty for many years. Gympanzees, a Bristol-based charity, is converting the building into a permanent home for the pop-up gym and play sessions it has run around Bristol for years.
How the money was raised
The charity received nearly £1 million from the National Lottery in April, and building work started in June. The total cost is £8 million. Gympanzees has now reached its latest target of £350,000, with 1,133 different donors, as well as money from fundraisers and events.
Founder Stephanie Wheen said the milestone felt unbelievable and thanked everyone who had donated, fundraised or got involved.
What the centre will offer
- A horizontal climbing wall
- A self-transfer trampoline
- A two-storey soft playhouse that children can use on their own or with a parent
- Hoists throughout the play area, so families with mobility issues can reach the upper levels
- Light and dark sensory rooms
- A café, music room and gym
- Ten rooms in total, with around 200,000 visits expected each year
Practical information
The centre is expected to open in spring 2027. Families who want to follow progress, or people who want to donate, can use the charity’s website at www.gympanzees.org.
