Minister 'disturbed' by reported treatment of Special Gymnastics Club

Wednesday, 20 August 2025 11:00

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan says he is 'disturbed' to hear that Jersey Special Gymnastics Club felt like a 'minority' in facility provisions at Oakfield sports centre.

Jersey Special Gymnastics Club says it has been forced to close because of a lack of adequate facilities.

It says it had safeguarding concerns about using the new shared sports centre at Oakfield.

READ: Special Gymnastics Club closes after 34 years

It has been reported that a government official 'drew a large circle and a small dot' to show 'how small a minority' they were within the situation.

Chair Jeannine Carey told Channel 103 that they had been 'very much treated as a minority.'

She said: "We've been left out of meetings and all sorts."

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said he was 'shocked' and 'disturbed' by these reports.

He told us his department was told in May that the club was closing due to a lack of coaches:

"My understanding is that there's been a lot of dialogue for quite a long time with the club, and they told us in May that they were due to be closing due to a lack of volunteers.

"We have got a facility (at Oakfield) that is capable of being used by any gymnastics club and we had been working with them on the design. We have included a wellbeing room, specifically at the request of the Special Gymnasts, so it did come as somewhat of a shock.

"I've worked with the Special Gymnastics Club in the past, so I'm well aware of the great work they do, and I know some of the parents as well, so I have seen first-hand the great work they do,.

"I do hope that they can rethink their position and get some volunteers. My door is always open to talk to them."