ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 Sponsors & Partners Principal Funding Partner: Official Apparel Sponsor: Official Equipment Sponsor: UK Governing Body: Partner Organisation: ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 Keep Updated Caledonia House, 1 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ T: 0131 271 9750 E: [email protected] www.scottishgymnastics.org Registered in Scotland Company Number SC177815 CONTENTS Chairman’s Introduction 4 CEO’s Report 5 Gymnastics Development Gymnastics Development 15 Participation 18 Workforce Development 19 14 22 2015/16 6 A Year in Numbers 23 Performance Gymnastics International Profile 7 Performance Programme 9 Performance Support Programmes 12 Competition Participation 13 Technical & Gymnastics Financial Panel Reports Statements Acrobatic Gymnastics 25 Directors Report 45 Men’s Artistic 27 Accounts 47 Rhythmic 29 TeamGym 30 Trampoline 32 Women’s Technical Panel 33 44 24 34 Commercial Operations Marketing & Communications 35 Corporate Social Responsibility 36 Board Update 38 Business Review 40 4 SCOTTISH GYMNASTICS ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 Chairman’s Introduction It seems that, with each year, the focus on gymnastics in Scotland increases. Following the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Scotland welcomed the World Championships to Glasgow last October. This presented an opportunity for our sport to Looking back to the start of the process, the be celebrated in a truly exceptional showcase of development of our new strategy was one of the world’s best gymnastic talent, who delivered the main focal points of our activity. Through performances of the highest standard. consultation, a new long-term vision was established where it was agreed that we would With qualification for the Rio Olympics on aspire to world-class standards in everything we offer to successful teams and individuals, the do. Scottish Gymnastics is now ideally placed to Championships did not disappoint in any way. support the delivery of these ambitious plans. Ground-breaking success for Great Britain made At the end of the first year of implementing our sure home advantage was rewarded, inspiring strategic plan, we are well ahead on projections the next generation of young gymnasts to imitate for membership forecasts and financial targets. their idols. Congratulations to all involved in the This is due to the significant growth steps our planning, development and delivery of the event. clubs have made. We now have many clubs It was a truly wonderful spectacle which will live working to formal business plans and many more long in our memory. looking to take advantage of the range of new Following hard on the heels of the World support measures which have been launched or Championships was an event which was will be made available over the coming months. very much a highlight of the last year. The re- Scottish Gymnastics’ commitment to working with introduction of our Annual Awards, combined with and listening to our members will also be reinforced our 125th Anniversary Dinner, was a truly inspiring later this year with the launch of our new board evening. We were able to celebrate achievements advisory groups, which we hope to have up and both recent and in the distant past, and those at running in the Autumn. The objective is to improve the start of their journey were able to hear from the board’s interaction and engagement with those who are much further along the path. members and to fully utilise the vast experience Recognition of achievement is not something we and expertise which exists within our sport, to should ever undervalue and we have many who shape the future implementation plans. have made significant contributions to shaping In addition, in order to re-affirm our long-term our sport, its culture and values and I am sure the vision and provide a reference framework related Annual Awards will become one of the key events to our approach to implementation, a range of on our calendar in years to come. consultation events will take place later this year. Reflecting on our achievements brings me As we move forward, our working environment back to reviewing our own progress over the continues to evolve and change. This results in last four years. Being close to the process, it an altered context for our decision making as our is sometimes difficult to take a bird’s eye view view of the future may be different today than and remainimpartial and it is natural in such the one we envisioned three years ago. It is vitally circumstances to be self-critical and understate important we keep our vision and destination at what has been achieved. That said, I am confident the forefront of our work to meet the evolving we now have the necessary building blocks in needs of our members, with frequent small place to move the sport forward and make a real adjustments to course always easier to implement impact. A strong governance structure has been than major changes of direction. established, a sound financial position is emerging and the membership continues to grow at an Scott Harper increasing rate year on year. Chairman WWW.SCOTTISHGYMNASTICS.ORG 5 CEO’s Report 2015 – The first year of the new twelve-year strategic plan and vision with the aim of empowering clubs to achieve their goals. The strategic approach places clubs and members With the aim of expanding our talent pool and at the centre with the aim of supporting clubs developing Scottish gymnasts to British and World to be the best they can be; providing accessible Performance levels, a new approach to developing programmes for coaches, officials and volunteers performance gymnasts has been introduced. This and to inspire and nurture emerging talent. provides a better alignment between Scottish and British approaches and is focussed on developing In delivering these strategic objectives we hard work, continuous improvement and an announced changes to the staffing and technical emphasis on coach development. In addition to panel structure to meet the needs of the the new programmes we have been able to gain membership; a membership that has grown additional support from sportscotland through the significantly over this last year to more than 20,000. Coaching Futures initiative and Sports Coach UK The team of Club Business and Development Aspire programme to further develop coaches to managers has developed and introduced a number support performance sport. of opportunities and programmes in supporting The profile of gymnastics continues to grow and clubs to be the best they can be and meet their for many inside and outside of the sport the World own ambitions. Support has been offered and taken Artistic Championships was a highlight of the year. making use of the expertise within the organisation It’s important to note and thank the large number to improve club structures and systems, legal status of Scottish judges, volunteers and clubs who and governance. Starting in Inverness we have contributed to the success of the event. The profile launched a series of ‘Drop in Clinics’ for clubs to of the sport continues to grow helped along by a seek advice and raise concerns. We introduced a number of notable international successes across ‘Club Leaders Forum’ to strengthen the network of many disciplines and captured in the International leaders shaping the sport for the future. We now Profile section of the report. In its final year have the expertise within the organisation to better in Irvine, Gymfest had more participants and meet the individual needs of clubs by providing spectators than ever before. business planning and facility development support and advice. Additionally we have been able to offer Fitness Scotland has been part of the organisation expertise in the form of the Roberts Partnership for a number of years. In the interests of allowing providing a series of workshops under the theme Fitness Scotland to grow and raise its own unique of ‘Enhancing your Club’; plus via BDO accountants profile it detached itself from Scottish Gymnastics and business advisors to provide employment tax to set up as its own independent company. workshops and helpline. The Annual Awards were re-introduced this year The introduction of a Workforce Development to recognise the achievements, commitment and Manager to the team has provided an increased dedication in our sport. There will always be many focus in providing accessible support programmes more who go unrecognised. for coaches and officials. With the support of I’d like to finish by saying thank you to the Active Advantage and SSE, coach mentoring Technical Panels, clubs, members, volunteers, workshops have been introduced to accelerate coaches and helpers for all the hard work, coach development. The strengthening relationship energy and commitment that goes into making with British Gymnastics has enhanced the gymnastics a great sport. Lastly a particular thank formal education offering, with the introduction you to our supporters and partners, sportscotland, of e-learning and a Level 3 Generic module. To Commonwealth Games Scotland and each of our complement the work of the Technical Panels in developing coaches and judges a Future Workforce sponsors who make a significant contribution to Programme has been introduced; online CPD has the development of gymnastics in Scotland. been launched, and with the support of Edinburgh Euan Lowe Napier University, a Post Graduate Diploma has been developed. CEO PERFORMANCE GYMnastICS WWW.SCOTTISHGYMNASTICS.ORG PERFORMANCE GYMNASTICS 7 International Profile It has been another busy year for Scottish gymnasts on the international stage with some outstanding results across our performance disciplines. March was a busy and successful month with Scotland retaining the Acrobatic Celtic Cup for the fourth consecutive year in Limerick, Ireland and the competition, performed brilliantly producing a British Artistic Championships at the Liverpool Echo performance worthy of the silver in the all- Arena with a number of Scottish gymnasts making around competition.