Ballymena Academy celebrated the opening of their new state-of-the-art outdoor gym today as a result of collaborative work between Garden Escapes, the Big Lottery Fund and Ulster Rugby.
Garden Escapes have been providing equipped outdoor fitness areas for councils, schools, sports clubs and community groups across the Province since 2012. The equipment, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is robust, well designed, cost effective and offers flexible training opportunities.
Richard Stuart of Garden Escapes, commented:
“The outdoor gym will provide all year round access for the pupils at Ballymena Academy and will be ideal for individual, small group and team activities. Initial feedback from the school has been very positive and they are excited about having such a good training facility on-site.”
Ballymena Academy Principal, Stephen Black, added: “I would like to thank Garden Escapes and the Big Lottery Fund for this excellent new facility. In order to support our Co-Curricular Physical recreation Strategy, we are constantly looking to enhance the sporting provisions available to all of our pupils as we recognise the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.
“The outdoor gym will help us to build on the sporting excellence at Ballymena Academy, offering all pupils the opportunity to enhance their fitness, while delivering a top class facility for our high performing athletes and sports teams.
"The advice and assistance from Ulster Rugby Fitness Development staff is greatly appreciated and with their ongoing help, I have no doubt that our pupils can gain maximum benefit from this facility.”
Moving the project from concept to reality was made possible by securing funding from the Big Lottery Fund under the ‘Awards For All’ scheme. Schools are being encouraged to explore the use of outdoor training facilities such as this. To find out more about about the project and the process please contact Ulster Rugby’s Fitness Education Manager, Chris Shields (chris.shields@ulsterrugby.com).