The attraction near the M48 will have specialist equipment designed to be inclusive for children with disabilities
The former motorway services in Aust, South Gloucestershire, which is set to be transformed into a leisure centre for disabled children(Image: Gympanzees)
A disused motorway service station near Bristol is set to become a massive play and exercise centre suitable for children with disabilities. The UK-first attraction, which has been years in the making, has reached a major fundraising milestone in its quest to open near the M48 Severn Bridge.
Works began in January at the former service station in Aust, which is being transformed by Bristol-based charity Gympanzees.
Their latest crowdfunding campaign has now broken the £250,000 mark thanks to the generosity of more than 1,100 supporters. The funds will be put towards building the £8m centre, which is set to open its doors in 2026, reports Business Live.
The charity posted on social media: “We’re building it. Work on the Gympanzees Centre starts this August!! Thanks to your incredible support, our Crowdfunder has officially ended with over £255,000 raised.
“This milestone means we can begin construction on the UK’s first fully inclusive exercise and leisure facility for disabled children and young people! If you donated, you haven’t just given money. You’ve helped build a better future for disabled children, young people and their families.
The old Severn View services at Aust pictured in June 2025, as work begins to turn it into a big new regional home for Gympanzees(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
“A heartfelt thank you to our amazing Gymbassadors, our fiercest supporters who shared, championed and cheered us on every step of the way. This simply wouldn’t have happened without you.
“Thank you to everyone who donated, and to those who purchased a tree, colouring book, opening day ticket or any of our other perks. Every bit of support helped get us over the line.”
They urged supporters to continue donating and sharing information about the project. So far, Gympanzees has raised £5.4 million of its £8 million target for the new centre.
Stephanie Wheen, chief executive and founder of Gympanzees, at one the organisation’s pop-up sessions(Image: Helen Sampson)
Once completed, the hub is expected to serve 200,000 disabled children, young people and their families annually. The facility will feature a variety of rooms, including a horizontal climbing wall accessible to all children and a two-storey soft play area with a wheelchair lift.
There will also be trampolines, specialised therapeutic swings, sensory rooms, a cafe, Changing Places toilets, a music room and a party room, according to the floor plan on the charity’s website.
Gympanzees founder, Stephanie Wheen, first conceived the idea in 2016 and until now, the charity has been operating through pop-up events held at various locations around Bristol. The sessions have proven popular, with over 28,000 visitors enjoying the blend of fun and fitness, as well as the provision of specialist equipment to more than 2,800 families and schools.
“After feeling like a pipe dream at times, it now feels incredibly real,” Ms Wheen expressed earlier this year. “We are doing something never done before and we now have a site and work has begun, our permanent home is closer than ever.”