Flames Gymnastics Club

Fuel Your Passion for Gymnastics!

About Flames
About Flames
FEES AND BRITISH GYMNASTICS MEMBERSHIP DUE - PLEASE SEE NEWS PAGE FOR DETAILS


Welcome to Flames Gymnastics Club! We are a small,friendly club based in the Gillett Centre in Selly Oak, Birmingham, established 35 years ago to provide safe, fun, and challenging gymnastics classes for all ages and levels.

Our certified coaches are focused on helping girls achieve their full potential and create a path for successful competitive gymnastics. Our club is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment for our gymnasts to learn and grow both in and out of the gym.

Here at Flames Gymnastics Club, we strive to help children become strong, independent individuals who can confidently reach their goals. Join us today and become a part of the Flames family!

13 March 2024 - Ramadan fasting arrangements; During the holy month of Ramadan, Flames gymnasts who are fasting will be supported to adapt their training to be lighter and less intense and have ample opportunity to break their fast and pray at the required time. Please talk to any of the coaches to ensure we are aware your child is fasting.

Easter Holiday training times - Please note the following times for training sessions during the Easter holiday due to University change in opening hours:

- Friday 29th March; 5-6.30pm recreational groups and 5-8pm for competition squad gymnasts
- Saturday 30th; March all normal classes and training times
- Tuesday 2nd April; 
5-6.30pm recreational groups and 5-8pm for competition squad gymnasts
- Wednesday 3rd April; 5-6.30pm recreational groups and 5-8pm for competition squad gymnasts

Congratulations - to Makayla who competed in her first English Junior Championships in Telford on Sunday 3rd March.  This competition was against the top junior FIG gymnasts in England, and Mak had a great day.  There were a couple of falls which cost dearly, but the competition gave lots of opportunities to learn, grow and improve before her West Midlands FIG competition in May. 

20 December 2023 - our last recreational classes of 2023 tonight! Happy Christmas everyone

This evening sees us run our last recreational classes for 2023, and we look forward to welcoming all of our gymnasts back to classes from Friday 5th January.  Competition squad training will continue and information has been shared on the Comp Squad WhatsApp group.  If you are not sure about any of the arrangements, please do get in touch by WhatsApp, email or text and we will be back in touch as quickly as possible (usually same day).

We have celebrated the end of 2023 with some competitions, firstly Holly completed for the West Midlands in her 'Gold' Classic Challenge national finals at Guildford.  Despite having missed quite a bit of training for exams, other sporting national finals and then being unwell, Holly had an amazing day and thoroughly enjoyed her last major event before taking time off to focus on her GCSE's in 2024. We also had our Club Championships on Saturday 16th December, and the results are posted on the results page and there are some pics on the photo page too.  Well done to all of our amazing gymnasts who have made such brilliant progress and achievements in 2023 and showed these off during their routines. 

We are looking forward to a fantastic 2024, and we wish everyone a wonderful festive period, especially Jay and Arti who are hanging up their handguards for a while to do other things.  We hope to see you again soon xx  

20 November 2023 - another Competiton weekend at the West Midlands Apparatus Team Championships

Well done to all of our amazing gymnasts who competed in the regional apparatus team champs in Cannock this weekend. With a few last minute changes and the bronze team stepping down when they did not have the required numbers, it was left to our two copper teams to fly the Flames flag!  
Extra mention for the following performances:

Saffy 2nd bars
Kimii-Li 5th bars

This weekend we also saw Makayla compete in the regional FIG qualifier, smashing her way through the qualifying score required to compete in the English Championships in 2024 and achieving 1st place on vault, 3rd on floor and 4th overall. Brilliant work yet again Mak. What a star!


12 November 2023 - Congratulations to Beam Queen Mak, who won gold on beam in the English Jim Moss Classic  Challenge yesterday 

We are so proud of Mak who competed in the English Silver Intermediate Level of the Classic Challenge yesterday. Bars, floor and vault did not go as well as hoped but beam was spectacular and Mak romped home with the gold medal for that piece. Well done Mak!  Thank you to coach Ricky and judge Lisa and we now look forward to the regional Apparatus Teams Competiton next weekend at Cannock.


31st October 2023 - It was a busy start to half term for our gymnasts, coaches and judges! 

31st October 2023 - It was a busy start to half term for our gymnasts, coaches and judges! 

On Monday 30th October, our Flames competition gymnasts travelled to Lilleshall National Sports Centre, the home of British Gymnastics, to compete in the 2023 Metropolitan County Championships.  We are very proud of our wonderful gymnasts, who hold their own in a very competitive field of talented gymnasts.  We especially congratulate:

Makayla (silver) who took top spot on vault and beam, and 2nd place overall
Merryn (bronze) 6th overall and 3rd on beam
Izabella (Bronze) 5th on vault, 6th on beam
Jayrian (Bronze) 4th on beam and 5th on floor
Grace (Bronze) 6th on bars
Etta (Tin 8-9) 4th on vault, 5th on bars, 3rd on beam and 4th floor, 5th overall
Charlotte (Tin 10-11) 1st place overall and on all pieces
Yumi (Copper 9-10) 5th vault, 3rd bars, 3rd beam, 5th floor and 4th overall
Saffy (Copper 11-12) 3rd on vault, *1st* on bars, 4th on beam and 6th on floor, 3rd place overall
Celia (copper 11-12) 2nd on vault, 5th on beam, 4th on floor, and 4th overall
Mya (Copper 11-12) 5th on vault, 4th on bars, 6th on beam, and 6th overall
Willow, 6th on vault, 6th on bars
Ida (Copper 13-14) 2nd on vault, 3rd on bars, 2nd on beam, 3rd on floor, 2nd place overall
Jessica (Copper 13-14) 3rd vault, 6th bars, 3rd beam, 5th floor, 4th overall
Kimii-Li (Copper 13-14) 3rd vault, 3rd bars, 4th beam, 6th floor, 5th overall
Arti (Copper 13-14) 5th vault, 5th bars, 6th beam, 3rd floor, 6th overall
Eliza (Zinc 10-11) 5th vault, 4th bars, 4th beam, 5th floor and 5th overall

Thank you to our judges Liz, Joanne, Chandra, Rhoda and Al, and thank you to all the brilliant parents involved in setting up and running the competition ... too many to mention, you know who you are, and I am so grateful to you all.

17 October 2023 - West Midlands regional Tin, Zinc and Copper competition - the first ever Womens Artistic 4-piece competition for many!

Congratulations to our amazing gymnasts Charlotte, Etta (both in the Tin competition), Eliza (Zinc competition), Arti, Kimii-Li, Saffy, Celia, Willow, Mya, Yumi (all in the Copper competition),  who all competed in the West Midlands Classic Challenge Tin, Zinc, Copper competitions last weekend. For many of these girls, it was their first ever Womens Artistic 4-piece competition and after only a few weeks or months of squad training and preparation.  Lots of competing of new skills and routines, and many opportunities to learn and improve going forward.  We are so very proud of everything you have achieved.  

Our next competition is the Metropolitan County Championships on Monday 30th October at Lilleshall, and for now it's time to get back in the gym to get ready for what lies ahead.  Good luck girls!!

3 October 2023 - First West Midlands regional competition of the season

Congratulations to our amazing gymnasts Merryn, Izzy, Grace, Makayla and Holly who all competed in the West Midlands Classic Challenge this weekend. 

In the Gold level, Holly achieved a fantastic 3rd place overall (after having a difficult time on beam!) and 1st on vault, 2nd on bars, 5th on beam and 4th on floor.  This result gave Holly a well-deserved place in the regional team at National Finals in November.

In Silver level, Makayla bagged a stunning 5th place on bars and 6th place on beam with an overall 11th place.  

Competing in Bronze were Merryn, Izzy and Grace who were up against a large field.  There are no individual places to report for these gymnasts, but we are immensely proud of their performances, with lots of new skills being competed, and the start of bigger and better things ahead.

Our next competition is the West Midlands regional Tin, Zinc, and Copper competition in 2 weeks time before our county championships on the 30th October, so we are back in the gym training hard for these next competitions.  Good luck girls!!




Where is the gym club?

Flames gymnastic centre is based in the Gillett Centre, 998 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6LG. The full details are on the Contact page below. Car parking is at the rear of the George Cadbury building (next door to the old Library and Gillett Centre).

How much does it cost to do gymnastics at Flames?

Our Saturday morning Gym Kids Group sessions cost £6 per session, on a pay-as-you-go basis.  You can pay in cash on arrival or via bank transfer.

For all our other sessions, we organise our classes into 8-week 'terms'. Gymnasts who attend our recreational programme (Gymnastics For All (GFA)) sessions pay £72 for 8 weeks attending once a week for an hour and a half.

Gymnasts who attend between an hour and a half and 7 hours pay £120 for an 8-week term.

Competition squad gymnasts pay £164 for 8 weeks and attend between 10 and 14 hours per week.


Does my child need any gymnastics experience to join?

No, we offer gymnastics coaching for beginners through to Womens Artistic national, regional and county competition level.  Experience is not required, just an enthusiasm to get involved and a desire to learn the sport. 

Can I watch my daughter train?

There are large screen TV's in the upstairs parents room with live feed video of gymnasts training in the gym.  Parents are welcome to watch all or part of every session via these screens.  Unfortunately we do not have space to safely accommodate spectators in the gym.  Parents who wish to assist in the gym during our Gym Kids Session are welcome to come into the gym with their child - please note this is not to watch but to participate and assist!

Any parent wishing to get involved in coaching will be welcomed into the gym in a voluntary capacity, and offered informal and formal training in the sport.  Please speak to any of the coaches if you are interested in this.

Will my daughter be insured whilst doing gymnastics at Flames?

Parents are required to register their child each year with the sport's governing body 'British Gymnastics'.  This includes insurance cover as detailed on the BG website.  The club and all coaches are also registered and insured via British Gymnastics.  There is a first aider present at all training sessions to manage any injuries that occur.  If you gymnast is injured during the session, you will be informed by a coach either immediately or at the end of the training session when you collect them.

Club Gymnasts

Club Girls (aged 6+) 6pm to 7.30pm Tuesdays Wednesdays Fridays Saturday (11 to 12.30)

Competion Squad Gymnasts

Tuesdays 6pm to 9pm Wednesday 6pm to 9pm Friday 6pm to 9pm Saturday 11am to 3pm Plus additional County/Region adhoc training times.

Gym Kids

Saturdays 10am to 11am Girls and boys aged 3 to 7 years old

People Who Do Things !

  • Alison Last - High Performance Coach, Regional Judge, Fire Warden
  • Lisa Rose - High Performance Coach and Team Gym Specialist, Brevet Judge
  • Ricky Hunt - Senior Club Coach
  • Ruth Clarke - Level 3 Coach and Club Welfare Officer
  • Amy Clarke - Level 3 Coach
  • Joanne Hemming - Level 3 Coach, Regional Judge
  • Liz Jones - Level 2 Coach, Regional Judge
  • Rachel Johnson - Level 1 Coach, Regional Judge
  • Rhoda Evans - Club Judge
  • Lesley Parrish - Level 1 Coach
  • Debbie Worrall Level 1 Coach
  • Hannah Shroff - Level 1 Coach
  • Paul Casey - Level 1 Coach, Fire Warden
  • Anya Hulusi - Level 1 Coach
  • Libby Seadon - Level 1 Coach
  • Emily Casey - Assistant Coach
  • Steve Jones - Assistant Coach
  • Richard Joberns - Assistant Coach

In addition to all of our volunteer coaches we have the fantastic support of lots of Mum's and Dad's including (not in any particular order)

  • Cordelia Mackenzie
  • Mike Radbourne
  • Richard White
  • Shazia Ifraz
  • Jackie Snipe
  • 998 Bristol Rd, Birmingham B29 6LG, UK
  • Gillett Centre on left hand side going out of town, and car parks at rear of the building. Look for the sign to Oaks Nursery and George Cadbury Hall (just after a bus stop), follow the driveway and park behind GC Hall then walk the short distance to the front of the hall, down a short flight of steps, across the old library car park to the front of the Gillet Centre. Please do not arrive any earlier than 20 minutes before classes start.

West Midlands Apparatus Teams Competiton 2023

West Mids apparatus teams where each gymnast competed one piece to achieve an overall score

Club Championships 2023

Classic Challenge Gold, Silver, Bronze National Finals 2023

English Gymnastics Jim Moss Classic Challenge - silver intermediate level

English Championships 2024

Metropolitan County Championships 30th October 2023

Metropolitan county champs 30th October 2023

West Midlands Classic Challenge TZC 2023

West Midlands Regional Classic Challenge Tin, Zinc, Copper October 2023

West Midlands Classic Challenge GSB and Age Group levels October 2023

Results of W Mids Regional Gold, Silver and Bronze Classic Challenge, FIG and Age Group Levels

National & Compulsory Grades plus Regional Challenge - 1st April

W Mids Club Grades 6 & 5 and Regional Grades 4, 3, 2, 1 on 29 & 30 April 2023

Results for Club Grades 6 & 5 and Regional Grades, 4, 3, 2 & 1

Our policy list

A list of all our policies available via this page. We also work under British Gymnastics umbrella policies which can be found via this link:https://www.british-gymnastics.org/safe-and-fair-sport/policies-procedures

DBS Policy

Safeguarding Children- safe recruitment

Safeguarding policy and procedure

Live Streaming E-book

Anti Bullying policy

Gym Kids Information Sheet

Safe trips guidance

Late collection of children policy

Missing child policy

21 September 2023 - Please note that Flames training fees and British Gymnastics membership is now due.

Flames training fees are now:

Recreational classes (1.5 hrs per week, 8 weeks term) £72
Enhanced attendance recreational classes (more than 1.5 hrs and less than 7 hours per week, 8 week term) £120
Competition squad £164 (8 week term) 

Please remember that British Gymnastics membership must be renewed/in place by 1st October 2023.  This is a requirement for all members of Flames Gymnastics Club.  Parents / gymnasts and officials must register themselves via the British Gymnastics website (there is a membership button on the 'landing page'). 

  • 2023/24 membership is due by the 1st October 2023. BG membership fees have also increased this year (sorry)
  • Recreational gymnast: £22
  • Pre-school gymnast: £15
  • Competition gymnast: £60
  • Club officer, welfare officer, club administrator: £22
  • Coach: £95
  • Assistant coach: £60
    Judge: £22

Good luck to our competition squad gymnasts who are currently making their final preparations for the West Midlands Regional Challenge competition.  The last few weeks are always brings out the best in our gymnasts, and they really focus on achieving those last few things for the competition.


14 August 2023 - Fees increase starting from week beginning 28 August.  As announced in our last message, due to planned hire fee increases by the University of Birmingham, we will be increasing our membership / training fees from 28 August.  

  • Saturday Kids Gym (baby gym) 10-11am £6 per session (previously £5)
  • Recreational classes (1.5 hrs per week, 8 weeks term) £72 (previously £66)
  • Enhanced attendance recreational classes (more than 1.5 hrs and less than 7 hours per week, 8 week term) £120 (previously £115)
  • Competition squad £164 (8 week term) (previously £155)

Also please remember that British Gymnastics membership must be renewed/in place by 1st October 2023.  This is a requirement for all members of Flames Gymnastics Club.  Parents / gymnasts and officials must register themselves via the British Gymnastics website (there is a membership button on the 'landing page'). 

  • 2023/24 membership is due by the 1st October 2023. BG membership fees have also increased this year (sorry)
  • Recreational gymnast: £22
  • Pre-school gymnast: £15
  • Competition gymnast: £60
  • Club officer, welfare officer, club administrator: £22
  • Coach: £95
  • Assistant coach: £60
    Judge: £22


20 July 2023 - Fees increase starting from week beginning 28 August.  Due to planned hire fee increases by the University of Birmingham, we will be increasing our membership / training fees from 28 August.  

Saturday Kids Gym (baby gym) 10-11am £6 per session (previously £5)
Recreational classes (1.5 hrs per week, 8 weeks term) £72 (previously £66)
Enhanced attendance recreational classes (more than 1.5 hrs and less than 7 hours per week, 8 week term) £120 (previously £115)
Competition squad £164 (8 week term) (previously £155)

British Gymnastics membership - this is a requirement for all members of Flames Gymnastics Club.  Gymnasts and officials register themselves via the British Gymnastics website (there is a membership button on the 'landing page').  2023/24 membership is due by the 1st October 2023.  BG membership fees are also increased this year (sorry):

Recreational gymnast: £22
Pre-school gymnast: £15
Competition gymnast: £60
Club officer, welfare officer, club administrator: £22
Coach: £95
Assistant coach: £60
Judge: £22

Please remember we are open all through the summer holidays with our normal training times. Please do let us know if your child is unable to attend due to holidays (or any other reason) so that their place is held and not released to a child waiting to join.  Thank you!


21st May 2023 - National Finals (National Grade 1), Fenton Manor 20th May 2023.  Congratulations to the fabulous Holly who competed as part of the West Midlands team yesterday in the National Finals for Grade 1.  The team came in an amazing 3rd place and Holly achieved a 15th place overall with top 20 places on 2 of her 4 pieces.  We are super proud of Holly's achievements, and look forward to the rest of the year to see what else lies ahead!! Pics will be on the photos page shortly!

Metropolitan County Squad - We also say an enormous well done to 9 of our Flames competition squad who have been offered a place in the Metropolitan County Squad after a trial held last weekend.  In alphabetical order, we say 'great job girls' to our superstars Grace, Ida, Izzy, Jay, Kimii-Li, Merryn, Saffy, Willow and Yumi.  


4th May 2023 - Competition success!

Congratulations to our Club and Regional Grades gymnasts who competed in the West Midlands competition last weekend.  We are delighted to announce that not only did all of our gymnasts pass their grades, but most achieved either 'commended' or 'distinction' level passes.  Special mentions go to the following top 10 placings..... 

* Jay, who in Regional Grade 1 achieved 5th place overall with 2nd place on vault, 9th on bars, 3rd on beam, 5th on floor and 6th on range and conditioning.  

* Merryn, who in Regional Grade 3 achieved 9th place overall with 6th on vault, 7th on bars and 2nd on beam

*Saffy*, who in Regional Grade 3 achieved 2nd place on beam

* Ida, who in Regional Grade 3 achieved 9th place on beam  

* Kimii, who in Regional Grade 3 achieved 4th place on bars

* Willow, who in Club Grade 5 achieved 5th place overall with 1st place on range and conditioning, 2nd on vault, 3rd on bars, and 5th on floor.

* Yumi, who in Club Grade 5 achieved 9th place overall with 4th on bars and 4th on floor

* Etta, who in Club Grade 6 achieved 10th place on vault.

* Phoenix, who in Club Grade 6 achieved 10th place on range and conditioning.