Charlbury Football & Social Club

Tue 12 Jan 2016, 22:29

If anyone would like to help at the he club please get in contact with us

Fri 8 Jan 2016, 14:31

Any help is great thank you but we do need somewhere to go until we get this club built so that we can keep going well we fund raise and get what we can together for the new club.

Fri 8 Jan 2016, 12:30 (last edited on Fri 8 Jan 2016, 12:53)

Important points have been made by FSC members and by other contributors wishing to point some ways forward for the Club but this Forum thread seems to be going round in circles.
There are one or two local residents, including myself, who have some experience of getting organised to approach funders or of advising others on doing so who would be happy to meet with representatives of the Club to talk about this, if the Club would find this helpful. There may be others in Charlbury who have experience to pass on and, if so, it would be good to hear from them.
I understand that The Gifford Trust have offered to help the Club with grant applications when a suitable point has been reached, but there is preparatory work to be done first.
We would not be trying to "teach grandmothers (or any other Club members) to suck eggs" but knowing what funders might be looking for can be a bit of a mystery, if you have not had to approach them before.
If the Club would like to take up this offer, please let me know via a post on this Forum thread with some contact details or by using the website messaging service (by clicking on my name at the side of this post).

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 19:42

I agree with Pearl, I support the Community Centre but feel sorry for the football and social club. Hopefully a short term and long term solution can be found for them.

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 18:20

As chairman of the Charlbury Motor Fire Brigade Fund, I would just like to answer the question Leah asked, about whether the Fund's money could be used to build a new clubhouse for the Sports & Social Club. As we posted yesterday on the Fund's page on the Charlbury website, the merger between the Fund and The Thomas Gifford Trust has now been completed. Most of the Fund's assets (resulting from the sale of the old Fire Station in 2008) were classed as what is known as permanent endowment, and the Charity Commission has very strict rules on what this can and can't be used for. For this reason, it would simply not be allowable for the Fund's money to be used to build new premises for the Club.

In answer to Martin's question, yes, the Fund's assets have now been transferred to The Thomas Gifford Trust, with the express purpose of using this money to help build the Community Centre. Since this is an allowable use of permanent endowment, the Fund's trustees considered that this is the best way of using the money for the benefit of the whole community.

The Sports and Social Club, as it is currently constituted, cannot be the recipient of charitable funds. I wonder if they have considered setting themselves up as a social enterprise which may offer more funding opportunities. Or as a community interest company, which is a type of limited company set up to serve a community where all profits are re-invested in the company and are not distributed. Perhaps the S&SC could specify what kind of help they need (other than straight cash!) to allow them to make progress on setting up the kind of organisation that can look for grants.

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 09:12

I also support the Community Centre but feel very sad for the Football Club.

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 09:00

Am I right in thinking the Motor Fire Brigade Trust has merged with the Gifford Trust? Does this mean the any funds from the MFBT has been allocated to the community centre?
Can I just make the point that every member of the Sports and Social Club I have spoken to are fully behind a new community centre, and are just upset and disappointed it doesn't include a new club.
They have been told they must be out by March 1st, even though the contract for the build hasn't been awarded yet! Its a shame we cant use the facility until the end of the football season.
I hope the community can come together and help find a solution.

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 08:22

I am sure most people don't know about these Trusts Leah. Hopefully now you have mentioned it that could be a possibility as obviously the Football Club need help to ensure Charlbury wont be missing out on their Club which would be a great loss to many.

Wed 6 Jan 2016, 07:56 (last edited on Wed 6 Jan 2016, 08:02)

Why can't some of the money from the Motor Fire Brigade Trust go towards funding the Football and Social Club?Obviously the Community Centre is not what everyone wants.

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 22:38

I would like to add my support to Charlbury Football Sports and Social Club. I have been a member for many years and enjoyed some fantastic events with my family. It is run by a commitee of dedicated hardworking people who give up there spare time to organise Easter Egg hunts, Summer Bbq, Halloween Party and Childrens Christmas Party including a visit from Santa. These events are organised by volunteers and are fantastic entertainment for families of the local community without great expense. It will be a huge loss to families who have lived in Charlbury for many years if this matter cannot be resolved.

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 18:35

This is not about the library and you got a £345 thousand pound grant from the country council for this. And your be stopping where you are till you new library is built. We have also been hoping for a new club for 20 years but this is not the case we have to be out by the end off Feb with no where to go yes we have a piece of land to build that's self build but with no help and no funding where do we go

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 16:23

As Secretary to the Friends of Charlbury Library can I explain that we have been hoping for a new library facility for over 20 years and during that time we have been fundraising to help pay for furniture for a new library. At times we despaired that a new library would ever materialise but now thanks to the efforts of the Gifford Charity trustees, both past and present, a new library is a real possibility. There is no money from the County Council for furnishing the library so everything that is needed for bookshelves, carpeting etc is coming from the funds already raised by the Friends and from other grants and donations secured by the Gifford Trust. The Friends of Charlbury Library are also ensuring that we still have a library in Charlbury by recruiting and organising a team of volunteers to help run the library. It is taking a huge amount of voluntary effort to ensure we keep a facility that at one time would have been provided by the local authority but which we value too much to allow it to close.

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 15:02

Excellent summary Paul with which I fully concur

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 12:57 (last edited on Tue 5 Jan 2016, 13:01)

In a similar vain to Martin, I am absolutely behind ensuring there is a Sports and Social Club on the site, BUT in addition to the Library and Community (Sports) Hall that will offer a most fantastic facility for Charlbury. There is no-one more than me that likes watching football…

Long post - click to read full text

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 11:30

But we can't get funding because every time we try we get told that we have aready had a grant and we haven't. Also we still have no where to go

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 10:47

As chairman of The Thomas Gifford Trust, I would like to clarify some of the issues that are being discussed here, and in particular the question of a new clubhouse for the Sports & Social Club.

While the Thomas Gifford Trust has never had an agreement with the Club over…

Long post - click to read full text

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 09:21

Yes they have meet with the club but have givin no help with finding another place to go and no help on funding they also said they would do the over site ground work which would have been a great help but there not doing that yes we have a piece of land but with no funding and no help we can't do anything we need help

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 09:14

What about the Sports and Social Club?
# TGT paid for and secured planning permission for an area at the end of the Sports Hall to house a new Sports and Social Club provided the Club funds the building. In the meantime, TGT has met regularly with the Club to help arrange alternative temporary facilities and to assist in fundraising. The Town Council has also met with the Club to assist in fundraising.
from the CCC website

Tue 5 Jan 2016, 07:48

It does seem unfair that a Club facility that is being demolished to make room for the Community Centre is not included in that new Centre. I do hope you can resolve this. Could the memorial hall be used with a bar? It not being that far away from the original Sports Club. Large TV installed (perhaps funded by some proceeds from the Gifford Trust) to help with the live games?

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 22:49

Liz it would appear that Charlbury Town Football Club are NOT part of the Community if they are expected to fund raise to retain a building within which to socialise in!
What an absolute shame when the club have bought so much to the town for all ages within the Community for so many years.
Somewhere the original plans for the Community Centre have changed!maybe the name of this centre should now also be changed to only part of the Community centre!!!

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 22:28

I think it would be a great shame if the sports and social club no longer have a place in Charlbury. When the plans were being drawn up for the new Community centre I seem to remember there being a possibility of a bar included. I remember at the time expressing concern that there might not be anywhere for the fottballers and their friends and families to go. If the sports and social club can't raise enough money, then could they join forces with either the cricket or bowls club to use their facilities, as happens in other villages. I know there is a bit of a distance between the football pitches and these clubs but other clubs successfully deal with this problem. Alternatively, could they use one of the local pubs - maybe The Bell, which seems to be struggling to find a role for itself in the community.

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 22:07

Yes the club is fundraising on there own they are getting nothing from the Gifford trust towards the club

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 21:46

Can someone from the CCA respond with a break down of restricted funds vs unrestricted funds? I understand third party grants are restricted but all funds raised in other ways (events, bricks etc) are not restricted so I presume it is the members of the CCA or Gifford trust who decide how they are spent? I don't know the details but from what has been said so far it feels like the social club has been asked to fundraise independently rather than being part of the Charlbury community or am I misunderstanding this?

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 17:08

Hopefully some way can be found to include the Charlbury football and social club in the proposed Charlbury Community Centre. It will be less of a community centre without them.

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 16:49

Have The Gifford Trust given a reason as to why it is not part of the build anymore?

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 16:04 (last edited on Mon 4 Jan 2016, 16:07)

Richard, The club has been working hard to raise funds for a new building and have tried to gain grants from many places only to be told that funds for this area have already been granted to the new community centre. This has made it even harder for us to raise the money needed. As from the end of febuary the club will have nowhere to trade from as the building is due to be knocked down this will make a difficult job even harder as we have been unable to find new premises. We were asked to move from our original club house and into our present building almost 18 years ago as a temporary measure for 2 years with an agreement with the Gifford trust that we would have a place in the new community centre when it was built.

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 14:02

I've split the thread into two accordingly.

As I understand it (and people closer to the issue will know more than me!), the problem is that the Community Centre is largely expected to be funded by grants from third-party organisations, such as the County Council, (hopefully) Sport England, and private…

Long post - click to read full text

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 14:00

As well as the Christmas party for the kids they loved seeing Santa we also have a Halloween party darts comp for the British legion summer bbq and lots more we have a darts team aunt Sally team as well as 2 men's football teams on a Saturday who come back to the club for food there is know where else in charlbury where you can watch football on sky as well as have a pint.

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 13:02

I would really like to keep this topic about the Sports and Social Club to help raise awareness. Perhaps the Corner House issues could be a separate discussion?
Thanks Amanda for your comment, I will look into this.
I think a new Sports and Social club would be a great asset to the community, not only for the youth and men's sides, but we have a high number of social members who come to watch televised live sport.
With a new more attractive building it may also be used by other groups, tennis club for example.
Surely there must be a solution?

Mon 4 Jan 2016, 11:25

Martin I do believe that the whole point of starting the girls football many years ago was to in fact gain access to grants that if I remember were then used to support the community centre and to support the building of a new sports social club? Is Steve Deeley (think that was his name?) Not around to ask as he was the person from the CTFC committee dealing with the grants and the new social club??

Sun 3 Jan 2016, 18:33 (last edited on Sun 3 Jan 2016, 18:33)

I'm sure the Sports and Social Club will be trying to raise money, but how long realistically will it take to raise the required funds to build a new facility? It seems to me it has been placed at the bottom of the list when the Community Centre plans were drawn up.
I'm fairly sure that the original plans in around 2008 included a new social club?

Sun 3 Jan 2016, 18:06

I thought the plan was that a new Football Club would be built with the new community centre. Is this not the case anymore? If it is, it will be a huge loss to the town.

Sun 3 Jan 2016, 12:13

What a shame that there will no longer be a Charlbury Football & Social Club, I have represented Charlbury FC for over 25years and the social club has always been a major part of Saturday afternoons. Charlbury FC runs 2 men's teams on a Saturday with the first team in the Witney & District premier league and the reserves in division 4.
The lack of after match facilities will make it difficult to attract new players to the club as well as persuade any Charlbury youth players to make the step up.
The current social club isn't the best looking building but the volunteers who run it have done a remarkable job considering it was only meant to be temporary 20yrs ago when the Spendlove was knocked down.
I'm a 100% behind the new community centre, but the fact that no funding has been made available for a new social club is very disappointing. I'm sure many residents would have seen a new social club on the plans, but unless funds can be raised for a self build then there isn't much hope.