Priya’s journey shows how a local gym can change a child’s life

21/08/2025

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Priya’s journey shows how a local gym can change a child’s life

When Priya O’Neill was a newborn, she started coming to YMCA Barry Gymnastics. Now, at 10 years old, she still can’t get enough of flipping, spinning, and cartwheeling across the gym floor. Living with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, Priya has found a place where she can grow and have fun, all with the support of her coaches and the National Lottery.

From early tumbles to big achievements

For Priya, gymnastics is a lifeline. The sessions help her:

Regulate her mood
Build coordination
Develop confidence
Make new friends

Her mum, Michaela O’Neill, describes her as a “rainbow of neurodiversity” and says the sessions have been a constant source of support since she was a baby.

I’ve made lots of friends here. The coaches are really good fun and understanding. The new equipment is great. There is a new pit and a big floor where we do our dancing.

Priya O’Neill

During Covid, when the club had to close, Priya’s mum noticed a big difference. “Without the release of energy and the routine of gymnastics, she was a different child,” she explains. “Here, she gets sensory input, kind and patient understanding from the coaches, and the routine of sessions in a safe environment,” says Michaela.

Even Priya’s occupational therapists have noticed her progress. With her condition, achieving such a high level of balance and coordination is a huge milestone.

A club for all abilities

YMCA Barry Gymnastics welcomes everyone. From babies and crawlers to wobbly walkers and elite squads. The club runs a variety of sessions:

Gym tots and pre-school classes
Disability support groups
Recreational and elite squads
Dance and movement sessions

Recently, National Lottery funding from Sport Wales helped transform the gym. The improvements include:

New flooring
Landing mats
A colourful foam pit

Michaela O’Neill says, “This club is really important. They don’t just reach elite levels of gymnasts, it touches so many people in our community with different abilities. The help from the National Lottery means the club can keep membership costs as low as possible. Without YMCA Barry and the National Lottery, children here wouldn’t have the opportunities to develop resilience, discipline, determination. It would all be gone.”

Thanks to the National Lottery

The grant has allowed the club to expand sessions, train more coaches and provide a safe, inclusive environment for everyone. Parents report that children are more confident, happier and thriving in both skills and social interaction.

If we hadn’t had the support from the National Lottery, the club would have been in serious trouble. So, we’d like to say a huge thank you to the players of the National Lottery for supporting us and our community.

Anthea Clements, YMCA Barry Gymnastics Club

A brighter, inclusive future

Thanks to this support, what was once a gym in urgent need of repair is now a vibrant space for children of all abilities. YMCA Barry Gymnastics continues to:

Support disability groups
Provide fun and learning for babies and toddlers
Nurture future Commonwealth Games hopefuls

For Priya, the gym is a place to grow in confidence, feel part of something special and keep dreaming big.

Thinking of helping children in your community thrive through sport? Like YMCA Barry Gymnastics, the Be Active Wales Fund could help your club provide opportunities for young people of all abilities.

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