Higher Energy Trampoline Club was formed 18 months ago with help and support from the West Oxfordshire School Sports Partnership and the School Sports Coach programme.

The aim was simply to offer young people the opportunity to discover a fun way to enjoy sport and to develop their skills in a safe, effective and child-friendly environment where the members can participate and enjoy pre-school, proficiency and competitive trampolining activities under the direct guidance of British Gymnastics qualified coaches.

Higher Energy TC provides a child-centred, coach-led programme designed to help your child develop their optimum level of performance. All coaches have been trained through British Gymnastics and have been screened for their suitability to work with children.

The club caters for children who just want to come along and improve the skills they may have learned on the garden trampoline, for youngsters who wish to improve their GCSE or A-Level PE results or for those who just want to try something new.

The club started with one coach, two trampolines and 12 participants and now,18 months on, it has purchased four trampolines, operates from five venues, has trained more than 30 trampoline proficiency coaches and employs four British Gymnastics coaches to deliver sessions to in excess of 200 children per week across the county.

Last year, club members entered their first competition, taking home nine gold and two silver medals. This began a trend. Since then, at every competition entered, the young trampolinists have consistently been rewarded gold, silver or bronze for their efforts and determination The club’s greatest achievement was to be awarded the prestigious Club Mark and Gymark accreditation from British Gymnastics. This award certifies the club adopts British Gymnastics code of conducts and health and safety and welfare policies — this is something the club is extremely proud of. It operates an open philosophy and welcomes the support of parents or guardians.

The club currently bounce at: Chipping Norton Nexus on Saturdays 8:45-9:45am, 9:45-10:45am, 10:45-11:45am, 11:45am-12:45pm Eynsham Nexus on Tuesdays 3.30-4.15pm, 4.15-5pm,5-5.45pm Berinsfield Abbey Nexus Tuesdays 4.30-5.15pm, 5.15-6pm Marston Oxrad Wednesdays 4.15-5pm, 5-5.45pm, 4.45-6.30pm Chipping Norton School Thursdays 6.15-7pm, 7-7.45pm.

Classes are open to those aged from four-and-a-half to 17 years. Special needs and adult classes are also available.

Future plans for the club include the purchase of further equipment to expand and develop training programmes across the county. They aim to get young people into sport and to keep them there.

For more information about the club, including free taster sessions, call Fiona Middleton on 07891 419793 or e-mail higher-energy@hotmail.co.uk