The Gillingham Jumpers Trampoline Club was founded on 17th November 1979 with four coaches (two of whom are directors of the Club and still coaching). Since then the club has introduced many new bouncers to trampolining and has produced competitors from County, regional and National Champions through to the 2004 Olympic Finalist Gary Smith .

One of those founder members is Martin Laws. He's an accomplished trampolinist, a International Performance qualified coach, an international judge and a professionally qualified sports massage therapist and Psychologist. Just to top it off, he was also an Executive Director of the British Trampoline Federation for over 10 years, Director and founder of the Kent Institute for Sport and also chair of the Kent Forum for sport. Martin has received a few recognitions of his work, including Kent Coach of the year 1993, Special award for services to Kent sport 1995, and lifetime contribution to Kent sport in 2004, BTF services to sport 1991 and the BTF award for excellence 1996, British Gymnastics distinguished judge and Master Coach. Martin has been the driving force behind the club and its achievements, although if you ask him, he will always talk about a team of people.

As the numbers grew, the club organised the members into four groups, based on levels of experience and ability. New members start in Preliminary Groups and once they've learnt the basic moves and safety procedures, they can move up to the Elementary Groups which are divided into Bronze, Silver and Gold. As members progress, more trampolining combinations are introduced, such as front and back somersaults, and by the time they get into the Intermediate Group, they start learning more complicated moves and routines. In the Advanced Group, members regularly compete at the top level, both nationally and internationally. Nowadays there are over 16 different levels within the club from toddler to international, from adult to special needs, there is no doubt that overall Jumpers has become the most successful club in Great Britain to date.

So you can start with a simple bounce and end up doing multiple twists and somersaults - but whatever the level, Jumpers provide excellent coaching and support.

Considerable proportions of our members have become exceptional trampolinists. The Club boasts World Age Group winners, World Record Holders, National, Regional and County Champions and 2004 Olympic Finalist Gary Smith. The Club grew so large, it was not able to meet normal training and competition needs at the old Black Lion site, which is a multi-sports centre and limits further dedication to the sport. The need became obvious, they needed a place of their own, a place to call their home.

The club newsletter, Jumpers, has been around for the majority of the seventeen years and is therefore able to help in identifying some of the milestones in the club's existence. Looking at the first edition of our newsletter (then Jumpers Herald), it is interesting to note that by the end of the first year there were 25 members and 21 on the waiting list. Since that time the waiting list has continued to be a feature of the club, with ever more people being attracted. Over the years the number of members has continued to grow and now exceeds 700. In that first edition there is also a mention of the fact that the club was raising funds to buy its first trampoline. That first fund raising activity was a success and has lead to many more. The new Jumpers Rebound Centre boasts 15 trampolines, 2 double minitramps a sprung tumble track and a foam pit.

By 1986, the standard of performance had improved to a level where we were able to enter a pair in the synchro event at the World Age Group Competition in France. The pair, Zoe Finn and Samantha Vandome, were placed third in this competition.

In the 1988 event, Ben Colgate won the gold medal in the synchro. In 1990 and 1992 he also came away with gold medals, this time in the individual event.

In 1992, Rebecca Jefford won a bronze medal in the Synchronised World Age Groups in New Zealand. This was with her partner Andrea Soonius from Coventry.

The Club has also achieved international recognition with two world record holders, one of which is still held to this day (number of somersaults in one minute - 84 by Dominic Swaffer on Record Breakers).

Club members have also appeared on the television in adverts, and pop videos.

One thing which has not changed over the years is the passion, time and dedication which members and coaches have put into the sport. All of our qualified coaches have continued to work on a voluntary basis, to ensure that costs are kept down, and to enable the sport to be made available to all.

As the club has grown there have been a number of reorganisations, and currently the members are grouped according to their ability, moving up into the next group as they pass a proficiency award under British Gymnastics Award Schemes.

Although the dream of having their own Training Centre started back in 1979, it was a few years later that the Jumpers launched a massive appeal for funds, rather aptly called Bounce 2000. But they didn't have to wait until the year 2000 to build the centre. Gillingham Borough Council gave their blessing to the project in June 1991 and at that time probably nobody (except Martin) ever realised that only five years later the new centre would be up and running.

The hard work of the club has been recognised by many organisations, including Gillingham Borough Council, Kent County Council, The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, The British Trampoline Federation, Sportsmatch, Sport England The Kent Playing Fields Association and British Gymnastics. All of them have made substantial grants or interest free loans to the club.

In 1995 the club made a successful application for National Lottery Funds and won a lottery grant of more than £700,000. This grant, together with all other monies, enabled it to build the very first purpose-built centre in Europe at a cost of over £1.2m.

The builders of the Centre were FB Ellmer of Barnes. The Quantity Surveyors were OI Associates. The Rebound Centre was constructed in a remarkable 26 weeks, and an incredible £28 under budget!

The Rebound Centre is now open seven days a week. It's not only the headquarters of the Gillingham Jumpers. It's also aiming to be the training centre of the UK, attracting trampolinists from all over the country. The centre has been granted County, Regional and National centre of excellence status.

More information on the Rebound Centre and the facilities available.