March 2017 News update
Hello and welcome to our March update. This month sees our Committee and volunteers embarking on some of the outside tasks covering both building maintenance and preparing the garden for what we hope will we be another good summer and autumn period. As usual we have plenty of work to do and we will always welcome anyone who has a couple of hours spare during the week to assist us. Give us a call on 07895386433 if you would like to be involved.
At the beginning of the year we received notification of two successful grant applications, one from the Co-op Community Fund for £1200 and the other from Sport England for £547. With the Co-op grant we had identified a need to replace the fixed small tables which are used by the pre-school playgroup and also individual children’s parties. These were both cumbersome to move and difficult to store and so we have found some folding tables which can be stored on trolleys and wheeled into the main hall.
In discussions with our regular Monday Club who participate in indoor games at the Centre i.e. carpet bowls, table tennis, dominoes etc. a new activity was identified, this being indoor kurling (ice free). This game works similar to the ice version but uses kurling stones that are mounted on ball bearings. Obtaining this grant has allowed us to purchase this equipment which we now incorporate in our games evening hire package as well as being used by our Monday Club hire. This group, who meet from October to April, continue to look for new members and you are most welcome to pop in to the centre on a Monday afternoon from 2pm to see what is on offer, even if it is only for a cup of tea and a chat. Alternatively give Anne Haywood a call on 01332700688.
Improvements to our main toilets are our next key project and at present we are looking at all grant opportunities to raise the necessary funds. It is extremely time consuming making the grant applications and unfortunately on many occasions we are not successful. As a self-financing operation we do rely on grants to make some essential improvements to a building nearly 30 years old, unfortunately many grant providers are not willing to fund refurbishment work. Our list continues to grow on the improvements we would like to make to the Centre and this excludes our future plans to expand the facility. We have some ambitious plans which would now be helped along if we could obtain some architectural concepts of what the extension would look like such that we can use these designs to attract funding. Are you an architectural student or technician or indeed an architect who would be prepared to volunteer some expertise with this project? expenses would be paid. We can be contacted through our website enquiries@chellastoncommunityassociation.co.uk or calling 07891954892.
Whilst the Association is a charity formed in 1984 the Trustees have prepared and submitted an application to the Charities Commission to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. A major benefit of this is that the current potential liability which could be placed on the existing Trustees will be eliminated similar to a limited company. Currently the Association pays additional insurance premiums to ensure that the Trustees are free from this burden bearing in mind that we are reliant on volunteers to run the Association. Once agreement is reached with the Commission it is a requirement that we hold a General Meeting of Chellaston Residents to vote through the new Constitution and we look forward to residents attending when a date is known to ensure that the new document can be ratified.
We are starting to move into the busy period when our Centre becomes a feature for Mum’s and Dad’s to be booking birthday party events for their children. With the secure garden facility this provides an ideal area for the children to run around or indeed a place for inflatable equipment such as Bouncy Castles. Our diary on our website provides information regarding availability. Saturdays are available throughout the day after 10.30 a.m. and Sundays from 1pm through to 5.30pm. Our facebook page provides photographs of our facilities. Joyce our Bookings secretary can be contacted on 07895386433 if you would like some more information or you have a question about hiring. We rely on the hire income to maintain the operation of the Centre. We continue to see a number of buildings including Community Centres no longer in operation therefore your continued support in hiring the Centre for private events and attending the regular weekly activities which take place will ensure that we do not become another statistic.
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