A GROUP of young gymnastic club helpers have no problems dedicating their spare time to help out.

Barnsley Community Gymnastic Academy’s Sophie Whittaker, Eva Outram, Alys O’Hara, Mira Markham and Connie Atkinson don’t always spend their time like regular youngsters.

The team have been nominated for a Young Champions award for going the extra mile as ‘club helpers’.

In their role as club helpers the team of gymnasts volunteer their time to assist in classes coaching younger children from four to eight. The team of girls simply can’t keep away from the gymnastics club, eagerly assisting on non-training days at events and competitions.

Ellie Farrell, head coach of BCGA, praised the girls’ dedication and believe they will go far with their ambition to work as gymnastics coaches.

She said: “The girls always come in with a positive attitude and they’re eager to learn.

“They hardly ever miss any sessions unless they are poorly or on holiday and have really made an incredible impact on our classes with the help that they give.

“The five girls that volunteer now are always in because they’re so dedicated.

“They’re so willing to learn that some of them have gone on judging courses.

“They make a massive difference because a lot of them will come in 4pm while 6pm and then train until 9pm.

“We always do competitions and events on weekends and they’re always so happy to help.

“We don’t have to ask them to come in, they love to do it and you need all of the pairs of hands you can get coaching juniors.

“All of them aspire to become coaches in the future which was the same as me when I trained here as a teenager.”