PROJECT UPDATE - 25/02/2012

This is an update on progress with the John Clements Sports and Community project.

At this stage we have raised £357,000 in cash/pledges and there is no doubt that a lot of this continuing progress stems from the confidence raised by earlier pledges made, which in turn have encouraged other funders to follow. More lead pledges will provide yet more encouragement and if you would like to pledge/donate to our charitable fund raising vehicle ,the John Clements Sports and Community Trust , please fill in the Gift and Banker’s Order Form on our web site www.jc-codicote.org or contact Jim Park, the Project Director , by email at [email protected] or by phone at 01438 820325

Funds Raised to Date – Total £357,000

  
In December 2011 we applied to the Sport England Iconic Facilities Fund for £350,000 and will hear the result of our submission by April 2012. We have worked hard on this with the local Sports Partnerships, taken advice from experts in this area of funding, developed strategic regional support from many NGBs of sport and strengthened our business plan which has the support of the local authorities. We are also targeting a further £100,000 of funds from up to 10 funds by the end of June 2012 and having the playing fields accepted as a Queen Elizabeth 11 Field as part of the Diamond Jubilee Year celebrations will help in this regard, as well as guaranteeing the fields for the playing of sport in perpetuity.

Beyond this we are in active discussion with a number of parties which, if successful, could lead to substantial donations to the project and take us to our target funding of £1.7m. If this materialises later this year or early 2013, we would then proceed with the project for a 2013 completion which would provide a real post London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics legacy. At this stage it is worth remembering the overall aims of the project

The aim of the project is to replace the current portakabin building with a new multi sports and community centre . The new facility will bring benefits to people of all ages and gender, address access and facility issues for those with disabilities , offer opportunities to the disadvantaged , enable the provision of training such as in IT, life style counselling and the opportunity to reduce of dyslexia and dyscalculia .

The current building is near the end of its extremely useful life and is inadequate to support the continuing growth in usage, the development of additional sporting and social activities, and the provision of a quality resource and permanent home for much needed regular youth activity.

It has served the community well, has developed into a thriving social hub, and has produced outstanding sporting achievements, and has increased sport and community activity with 38,000 visits per annum to the centre which we are targeting to increase to over 100,000.

The new centre will provide a sports hall of a size suitable for a variety of sports activities, including; indoor football, tennis, cricket net practice, basketball, netball, tennis, exercise and dance classes. It could also be open as a hub for ramblers and cyclists.

The building will have a room for a dedicated youth club – the current youth group organisers have for years lacked a permanent resource for youth work in the village which frustratingly has hindered its activity and attendance. When not used by the youth club, this area will also be used as a crèche for babies and young parents and a dance studio for people of all ages.

Upstairs will house the community centre which will continue the role of a social hub for the whole village. It will provide after match refreshments, will be a venue for social parties and celebrations ( births /weddings/funerals ) , and for sporting/social activity for the older generations such as carpet bowls and card games/bingo as at present. It will also be a venue for lunch time and evening talks and is open to suggestion for other community uses.

Volunteers have been at the heart of the Club’s success to date with over 80 people regularly involved with the individual sporting clubs and running and delivering the social element. Our aim is to retain this community volunteering ethos, keeping running costs down whilst ensuring the community feels part of and takes ownership of the new facility.