Gympanzees Bid to raise final cash to complete inclusive play centre

PARENTS of children with disabilities or special needs across the West Country have helped launch a new crowdfunder to transform the former Severn View Services next to the Severn Bridge near Bristol, and say it's hard to put into words just how much the new facilities will mean to them.

- Tristan CORK

The Gympanzees project has launched a fundraiser campaign to raise £250,000 - which will unlock much of the £5 million that's already been pledged by funds and grant-giving trusts to create Britain's first permanent fully-inclusive health and play centre, overlooking to the Severn Bridge at the Aust Services on the M48.

Gympanzees began in Bristol back in 2016 and has been operating a successful pop-up project providing play facilities for children with disabilities at the weekends and school holidays.

But a permanent base open all-year-round would bring as many as 200,000 visitors a year, and the former motorway service station at Aust is an ideal location for families from across England and Wales.

Emma Capel attended that first pop-up back in 2016 with her son Elliot. She said many parents with able-bodied children perhaps take for granted how easy it is to visit softplay areas, trampoline parks and other play venues, something that her family struggle to do.

"I first took Elliot when he was two to the very first pop-up," said Emma, who has two sons, Elliot and Wilfred.