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FAQs

Q: What discipline(s) do you teach? Who do you cater for?
A:
We currently only teach the General Gymnastics discipline on a recreational level - we are taking a break from competing. With our current venue we can cater children aged 4-14 and most abilities, if in doubt just contact us to check whether our classes would be suitable for your child(ren). We will be expanding our programme in due course.
Q: Are your coaches qualified?
A:
Yes! Our head coach (Michelle) is qualified to Women's Artistic Level 4 (Performance Level). In addition we have several other coaches who hold Level 2 qualifications in either Women's Artistic or General Gymnastics. Our trainees / assistant coaches either are, or are in the process of being trained to Level 1.
Q: Are you taking on trainee coaches? How can I get involved in gymnastics?
A:

Unfortunately, due to the various challenges we face from the global pandemic, we are not in a position to take on new trainees at this point in time.

With that said, please do let us know that you're interested - we'd love to hear from you! We can take your details and contact you if/when an opportunity arises. Gymnastics coaches, judges and similar staff are, relatively speaking, a small and finite resource, so we both welcome and encourage newcomers to the sport in all capacities.

Children* and adults alike can start training to be a coach, it provides many transferrable skills, improves communication, boosts confidence and is generally speaking an exciting and wholesome sport to teach. It is not a prerequisite to have trained as a gymnast, many of the best coaches got involved as adults without ever having taken part in the sport themselves - especially parents getting involved after watching their children taking part.

*From the age of 13, licenced by the local authority.

Q: I previously paid for a course that was cancelled, do I have an account credit?
A:
Yes, absolutely! Please check your bank statement for the amount you paid us, or if you would like us to verify the amount, please email your request from the email address we have on record for you. Any credit owed will be automatically applied as a credit during the booking process anyway.
Q: What does the credit apply to?
A:
When you make a booking, the credit will simply be applied against the total order value, including course fees and membership.
Q: I have credit, can I just have it refunded instead?
A:
Yes, just email us your request. However, please be aware that you will be given a full refund less a £10 administration fee as detailed in the booking form terms.
Q: Why are sessions more expensive since returning?
A:
Please see our COVID page for an explanation of why we've had to temporarily increase our prices.
Q: Are your activities insured?
A:
Absolutely. Our club, coaches and participants are all registered with the governing body British Gymnastics, who provides full insurance coverage through their own underwriters. This includes coverage for coaches in their professional capacity (professional indemnity), accident / injury cover for participants and public liability and employer's liability policies for the company.
Q: Why do I need club membership?
A:
The majority of your membership fee covers mandatory British Gymnastics registration and insurance, which we pay directly to BG. The remainder covers other nominal expenses such as London Gymnastics regional body affiliation fees, and administration costs.
Q: Do you offer trial sessions?
A:
As of recently, yes! A trial session is 1 hour long and costs £12 per participant. Our club insurance covers newcomers for trial sessions, after which participants must hold their own insurance policy which is provided through purchasing membership.
Q: Why did you switch from termly / half termly course bookings to monthly rolling, via Direct Debit?
A:

We found that we were spending an inordinate amount of time organising course bookings, reconciling payments, communicating with customers to confirm whether or not they wish to return for the next course then having them manually pay via bank transfer.

Our new system eradicates the vast majority of that admin overhead and makes things much more simple for both us and our customers. You simply sign up once, then just let us know if you wish to cancel. Payments are automatic - no chance of losing your place(s) if you forget to renew, and payments are spread out into smaller chunks of just a few weeks at a time.

We are aware of other sporting organisations (both gymnastics and otherwise) who use this model with great success, so we thought it would be worth giving it a go. As a small non-profit company with limited income due to COVID-19, anything that reduces our admin costs and saves us time will be welcomed.

Q: What happens if I join after the start of the billing period (month)?
A:
You simply pay a prorated amount covering the remaining sessions in the month, then you will be enrolled into the monthly billing cycle for the following month.
Q: Is Direct Debit safe? Is it open to abuse?
A:

We believe that Direct Debit really is one of the safest payment methods available for the following reasons:-

  • GoCardless is a very well-established company with a good track record.
  • You need only provide your details once to set up the mandate, no need to give card details over the internet.
  • The Direct Debit Guarantee protects customers from payments taken in error. In the case of any incorrect or fraudulent payments, the payer is entitled to a full and immediate refund from their bank. Read more
  • Direct Debit mandates are easy to cancel - most banking apps & websites let you review and cancel mandates.

If you are still concerned about using Direct Debit, on request we can set up a 'restricted mandate' which requires your manual approval of each payment. Alternatively you're welcome to pay via Bank Transfer (see below).

Q: Can I pay by bank transfer?
A:

Sure, no problem! Whilst Direct Debit is our primary payment method, we understand that it may not work for everyone.

When paying via bank transfer, the onus falls on to you to ensure that you're paid up at least 2 weeks prior to your session on renewal, doing so will guarantee your place(s). The minimum payment is one month of classes as per the payment schedule, but you're welcome to pay for longer periods upfront if you prefer - the same 2 week notice period for cancellation & prorated refunds applies (see below).

Q: What happens if I cancel?
A:
You may cancel at any time by telling us which date will be your final session. We do however require a minimum of two weeks notice so that we can find another customer to fill your place(s). Payments are refunded pro-rata, minus any sessions within the 2 week notice period. On that basis, as long as you give us the required notice, you will receive a full refund for paid-up sessions beyond your cancellation date, no admin fees etc.