Gymboree UK News

What’s happening in the world of Gymboree, the UK’s highest quality classes for 0-5s!

May 2012: Gymboree staff complete Charity Skydive!

The brave Gymboree staff members have successfully completed their skydive, all in aid of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital! 6 ladies leapt out of the plane on the 6th of May over a cloudy day in Reading – and all landed safely with a smile.

Members across the UK have been generously sponsoring them and their money is now coming in fast; all in all they look to have raised around £1000 with their stomach-clenching endeavour! Everyone across the Gymboree UK network are  very proud of their efforts.

Well done to the ladies – and many thanks to all who sponsored them!

April 2012: Gymbo completes the London Marathon!

He did it! Gymbo completed the London Marathon on the 22nd April in an amazing time of 4 hours and 29 minutes – and hit his fundraising target of £1200 in the process!

All the funds raised are going straight to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s charity, as part of the Gymboree UK network’s aim    of raising £10,000 in total. We are now 75% there after just 8 months, and planning to keep going until we get as much as we can for  this wonderful cause.

Everyone is extremely proud of Gymbo’s amazing achievement – and wishes him a well earned rest and recovery after trekking it across London.

“Gymbo ran it fast / Gymbo ran it slow / Gymbo reached the finish line / What a way to go!”

He’ll be back to dancing again in no time… Well done Gymbo!

April 2012: Gymboree Glasgow West End – opening 24th April!

Exciting things are underway – a brand new branch of Gymboree will be opening in Glasgow West End on the 24th April! Current Glasgow South owner Lisa  is expanding to the new territory, with classes to start in a gorgeous space in Anniesland Methodist Church Hall (G12 1DH) at the end of this month! Classes are already booking up fast whilst Lisa and her team put the last minute finishing touches to everything… They are hugely looking forward to welcoming new members, and we wish them the best of luck in their second home! Take a look at the Glasgow West End site page for more info and to book your Free Trial!

April 2012: WO4LO Voting continues

Voting is well underway for the What’s On For Little Ones Awards 2012 with thousands of votes cast already, including those from Gymboree members across the UK in support of their favourite weekly development activity! If you love Gymboree then please cast your vote for us in our 4 categories, including our previous winner, ‘Best National Pre-Schooler Development Activity’. Thanks to all for your support of Gymboree – voting closes 6th May and don’t forget that two of our teachers are up for Most Outstanding Activity Leader for the Under 5s: Linda Scott of Gymboree East Kilbride and Stephanie Bradley of Gymboree Surbiton! We can’t wait for the results in June. Watch this space!

March 2012: Gymbo in training for the marathon; mass fundraising for a Skydive!

LONDON MARATHON Gymbo has been hard at work training for the London Marathon on April 22nd to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital – and his very own Justgiving Page has now gone live! Daily bouts of dancing, singing and playing hide&seek in Gymboree sites across the UK have stood Gymbo in good stead for his initial training , but this is no short jig around the playfloor.  Gymbo has been jogging, hopping and skipping all over parks around London, with one goal – to get through all of the miles on the day and raise as much money as possible! He is hoping to raise at least £1200 and donations have begun, but more are needed! Please go here to visit the Gymbo Justgiving page to see some of his training pics and to show your support.

CHARITY SKYDIVE Gymbo is not the only one going to extreme lengths to help Gymboree UK smash its target of £10,000 this year for GOSH – on the 6 May 2012 a number of teachers and site owners will be doing a charity skydive. The brave participants have decided to leap out of a plane over the beautiful Reading countryside this Summer – and they aren’t worried about admitting that they are terrified! They have taken on this crazy scheme to try and raise as much money as possible for this amazing cause - and are asking for donations to be left at the main Gymboree UK Justgiving page here or in the GOSH money buckets that can be found at the sites. All donations are hugely appreciated; please leave a note to say who you are supporting in their giant leap for Gymbo-kind! Watch this space for further updates on the GOSH fundraising as Spring continues…

March 2012: Gymboree nominated in What’s On 4 Little Ones Awards

Gymboree UK is delighted to announce that they have once again been nominated for the What’s 0n 4 Little Ones awards – and this year they feature in four categories! After twice winning ‘Best National Pre-Schooler Development Activity’, in 2009 and 2011, Gymboree is now up for the 2012 awards for:

Voting closes on the 6th May at 5pm so there’s not much time to cast your vote – go here to the WO4LO Voting Page and show your support for Gymboree!

February 2012: Gymboree Sevenoaks turns 1 and moves to a new venue!

Gymboree Sevenoaks have found a new home and relocated from the 16th February 2012! They are extremely excited for their move – which is coinciding perfectly with their First Birthday! Sevenoaks will now be expanding to offer classes 5 days a week and their new home has a lovely large hall perfect for all Gymboree play equipment, toilet facilities and, best of all, FREE PARKING! Check out their site page to see their new venue address. First Birthday celebrations were held in style with a Open day to settle in on the 17th February with lots of fun had by all. Good luck in the new home to owner Colette and all members of Gymboree Sevenoaks!

January 2012: St Albans opens!

Gymboree St Albans officially opened its doors on Monday 23 January to lots of new Gymboree children! All of this week grown ups and little ones are trying out Play & Learn and Music classes in the brand new location – with over 300 people coming through the doors to meet Gymbo! Congratulations to new owner Susie and her staff; we are sure all the families will have loads of fun!

January 2012: Tommy’s Voting Opens! 

Voting has officially opened for the Tommy’s Awards 2012 – where Gymboree is shortlisted as Best Children’s Activity Provider! Which companies across the UK do YOU think are helping to make the lives of parents and carers easier, and providing a high quality experience for children and adults? Gymboree believe that they are, but we need your VOTE! Tommy’s are a children’s charity dedicated to research into the causes of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage, and providing support and information for parents on issues relating to pregnancy. Their Awards every year recognise and acknowledge the efforts made by companies for parents and carers…. and Gymboree need your vote! Please visit: http://www.tommys.org/awards We look forward to hearing the results when voting closes on the 20th February 2012.

January 2012: Fundraising Galore!

Gymboree has been hard at work for the last few months starting fundraising for its chosen charity of the year: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Parties and events have already been taking place, and many more are planned, right across the UK – all in order to raise money for a vital piece of equipment to treat children with abnormal heart rhythms. After 4 months they are already a third of the way to this  £10,000 target and so are hoping to surpass it! And there is still something major to come… We are beyond thrilled to tell you that Gymbo the Clown will be running The London Marathon in April, for the charity! Gymbo is currently hard at work training for the 26 mile race, so look out for some pics coming your way of his gruelling regime… We’d love it if you could show your support for his efforts and help us raise as much as possible for this incredible hospital, which has been saving lives for 160 years. Visit our page here at JustGiving.com to see how we’re doing!

November 2011: Gymboree is coming to St Albans

We are delighted to announce that Gymboree is coming to St Albans – and will be opening its doors early in the New Year 2012! Gymboree St Albans will be owned and operated by local mum Susie Williams. She looks forward to welcoming you soon! Watch this space for further updates on timings…

November 2011: Gymboree nominated for Best Children’s Activity Provider in the Tommy’s Awards

We are thrilled that we have yet again been nominated in the Tommy’s ‘Let’s Get Baby Friendly’ Awards. Voting begins in January 2012.

October 2011: Gymboree UK wins International Franchisor of the Year

Gymboree UK was delighted to win International Franchisor of the Year at the Gymboree International Conference in Maui, Hawaii. The award was for recognition of Outstanding Performance, Service & Development. Pictured are Susannah Alexander, Managing Director and Ann Barker, Marketing & Communications Manager.

June 2011: Gymboree wins prestigious award!

Gymboree named Best National Pre-schooler Development Activity 2011

Susannah Alexander, Managing Director

Gymboree has been yet again named as the Best National Pre-schooler Development Activity. With over 32,000 votes cast, the awards are determined solely by parents and Gymboree has come out on top! Says Susannah Alexander, Gymboree UK’s Managing Director, “We are thrilled to have won this award and thank the thousands of Gymboree families who took the time to vote for us and show their support for our wonderful programme!”

May 2011: Gymboree Play & Music’s success in the South East

Gymboree Play & Music success in the South East Gymboree is thrilled to be adding two more franchises to its already thriving classes in the South East.  Collette Beard, soon-to-be mum, and Gymboree teacher for more years that she cares to remember (!), opened her site in Sevenoaks in January 2011 and is achieving great success in Kent. Charlotte Endacott, Gymboree Mum and mother of Thomas opened Gymboree Herne Hill in May 2011 and is already expanding her timetable to cope with the demand. Susannah notes, “At Gymboree we are seeing that families are being more and more selective with their time and money and they are choosing Gymboree for our consistency, quality, and commitment to excellence. There is simply no other nationwide class for under 5s that comes close to what Gymboree delivers!”

2010: Gymboree’s Baby Play – the UK’s only nationwide class dedicated to newborns

Gymboree’s Baby Play – the UK’s only nationwide class dedicated to newborns Gymboree’s re-launched Baby Play classes are winning rave reviews from new parents across the UK. With a focus on sensory exploration, each theme-based class features songs, activities, dances, musical activities and prop play designed to gently stimulate baby’s senses. Says new mum Sam James, “When Harry was born, I had no idea what to do with him or where I could go to learn. Other playgroups tended to have toddlers and older children so it didn’t appeal with Harry being only 10 weeks old. Discovering Gymboree’s Baby Play class was like a whole new world opening up for me. I learned new songs, actions, and most importantly, I was introduced to a wonderful group of new mums and dads.”

October 2009: Gymboree Play & Music’s Scotland successes

Gymboree Play & Music Scotland successes Gymboree is thrilled to be adding two more franchises to its already thriving classes in Scotland. Lisa Rafiq, a long-time Gymboree mum herself, has begun classes in South Glasgow and is receiving rave reviews. Karen McVean will also be opening a new franchise in Lomond with plans to open in time for Christmas. These two new franchises are in addition to thriving classes already being held in Glasgow’s West End and in Lanarkshire.

May 2009: Gymboree wins national award!

Gymboree voted best national pre-schooler 2009 Gymboree has been named as the Best National Pre-schooler Development Activity in the What’s on 4 Little Ones Awards.

2009: New Gymboree centres opening across the UK

New Gymboree centres opening across the UK Gymboree continues its incredible growth throughout the UK with new Gymboree centres opening in Watford, Islington and Glasgow South in October, in Cobham and Lomond in November and in Bristol and High Wycombe in January! For information on any of these openings, click on “Find a Class Near You”.