The Annual General Meeting of Sussex Gymnastics was held on Wednesday, 6th May 20:30 at the The Jack & Jill Inn, Clayton, BN6 9PD
Present
Emily Knight
Beth Burchett
Sarah Dyson-Bottle
Josie O’Connor
Julie Belchamber
Emma Webber
Jeanette Sherlock
Jess Wileman
Nikki Huggins
Heather Sampford
Mike Gevaux
Stella Jackson
Sally-Anne Warner
Apologies for absence
Kim Mirceta-Nash
Dawn Hyland
Lisa Jestico
Richard Keasley
Charlotte Wynne-Pennels
Mark Poore
1. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes from the last meeting were agreed to be correct. There were no questions or matters arising.
2. Chair’s Report
Appreciative of all Keith’s efforts as treasurer.
3. Treasurer’s Report
Stella on hol from 12-23rd May
Potentially move savings to within the Sussex account?
Still stick with budget sheets - 2 weeks before event
Subsidise national entry fees? - not all able to access HPF
4. Discipline Reports
General
New venue for 4 piece needed - over a couple of weekends as no venue big enough
Festival
4 clubs involved now, more are finding out about it and getting involved
Acrobatics
No report for this discipline
Trampoline / DMT
Lots of profit to Sussex through comps
Judges workshop happened in Jan
Tumble
New club joined this discipline
Judge from Sussex judged at major event
Lots more coaches of higher levels - can take out higher level skills in competition
Combining Sussex champs with Acro
Tumble track carpet - for sale - contact Hollington
Team-gym
Lower level qualifier comp - Mezzo - Dyson to take part
Sussex Judge at British Champs
English Championships - first Sussex representation this year
Funding proposal from this years squad - biannual
Good rate of retention - squad members at Hawth over 30! - not having to give up as many hours of the week but still high level
Men's Artistic
Rules becoming harder and harder
Not enough boys involved to water down rules etc
Not enough coaches involved in men’s
Women's Artistic
5. Welfare Report
Trying to get to as many clubs/comps
Active Sussex network - meet other sports coaches etc
Young leaders welfare course - Active Sussex (online) - All local and in contact with BG
6. Election of Officers
.
| Position | Candidate |
Proposed |
Seconded |
| Chair | Emma Webber | Sally-Anne Warner | Beth Burchett |
| Vice-chair | Heather Sampford | Emma Webber | Jeanette Sherlock |
| Treasurer | Stella Jackson | Emily Knight | Heather Sampford |
| Secretary | Emily Knight | Sally-Anne Warner | Mike Gevaux |
7. Discipline representatives
Most discipline representatives were willing to stand again. They were agreed on block. Those that were not in attendance were agreed by the committee before the secretary emailed them to confirm they were willing to stand for another year.
| Position | Candidate |
| General |
Kim Mirceta-Nash |
| Festival | Sarah Dyson-Bottle |
| Acrobatic | Charlotte Wynne-Pennels |
| Rhythmic | N/A |
| Trampoline / DMT | Julie Belchamber |
| Tumble | Nikki Huggins Mark Poore |
| Team-gym | Sally-Anne Warner |
| Men's Artistic | Richard Keasley |
| Women's Artistic | Lisa Jestico |
8. Other roles
The welfare officers were agreed by the committee, for those not in attendance, the secretary emailed to check they were willing to stand again for 2026/2027.
| Position | Candidate |
| Welfare officer | Mike Gevaux Dawn Hyland |
9. Any other business
9.1 High Performance Funding Increase
High Performance Funding Increase Proposal
Increase in high performance funding agreed
Potentially take something to SE regarding - can only have either SE or Sussex funding but could maybe help those counties without a committee
9.2 External Visitors
Can we bring in external coaches/gymnasts for training days for tumblers etc?
YES - do budget sheet like a competition etc then approach treasurer etc - goes for all disciplines
9.3 Expenses
Claim expenses/mileage - officials on committee can claim expenses for meetings
Increase in entry fees in all disciplines - pricing out a huge amount of children and talent
Stella speak to Mike/mark about Sussex expenses form
Ideas forward for what Sussex funds should be for - e.g, excellence into the county training sessions etc - both mental and physical
Mental health awareness courses etc
Sussex - run course with active Sussex etc - course on BG not necessarily helpful
Free courses regarding Autism awareness etc.
Useful links to courses etc to be added to the website - active Sussex, etc.
Local BG courses - to be pushed round Sussex
9.4 Meetings
Alternate daytime and evening meetings to give everyone a chance to attend
Venues and times TBC
Meeting dates for 2026/2027:
Wednesday 15th July 2026
Wednesday 14th October 2026
Wednesday 3rd February 2027
Wednesday 5th May 2027 - AGM
Meeting finished at 9:53pm