Ossett News Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Only 5 days to go. A huge thank you to all those who have taken time out to donate to the Ossett RUFC Crowdfunding appeal. We are all very thankful for your genororisity if anyone else would care to donate please see the video below https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ossett-rugby-recovery-1 Again, can we all please like and share this post. Thank you all !!! Should we be lucky enough to exceed our original target, the funds will go equally to support our goals of improving the facilities to allow increased participation within restrictions, and also to providing funds to support our members. 1613310093_2019-20_squad_photo.jpg WHO WE ARE Ossett RUFC is a community-based club in Ossett, in West Yorkshire, providing the opportunity for all adults to play and enjoy the game of rugby union. Formed 42 years ago this year, Ossett RUFC is run solely by volunteers on a “not-for-profit” basis, and has expanded over the past 3 years to include a women's section. There were plans in place to launch a girls team in September 2020 - this has been delayed until it is safe to do so. The club also has a longer term plan to expand and include a boys team to complement the girls section. We are based at Ossett Cricket & Athletic Club and play matches both at the Cricket Club and Green Park. 1613310982_photo-2021-02-14-12-49-00.jpg EFFECT OF COVID-19 All rugby was cancelled from the 17th March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst some limited rugby activity resumed over the summer, we are someway off returning to the full contact game we all enjoy. Apart from the impact on all the players being unable to play the game they love, the club has had to put a halt to scheduled fund raising activities and changing room improvements over the past 12 months. Our fixed costs have still to be met, but income from matches, social events and functions have completely dried up. We have taken the decision to give our sponsors time to navigate the COVID landscape without aiding the Club. OUR MEMBERS We consider our members to be our biggest asset. They represent us in the local community, and it is through their word of mouth that our playing membership increases. Without them the club would not be a vibrant place, with a strong team and community spirit. Our members give the club a lot during normal times, and the club feels a duty to support our members through these tougher days. Some of our members are facing unexpected hardship and the club wishes to set up a fund that is there to support club members when in need. 1613311322_93845687_1510345559146001_8945700670296555520_n.jpg DEVELOPMENT PLANS Changing Facilities The club's changing facilities were inherited this year from a local football team, and they have suffered from a lack of maintenance over the past 2-3 years. The shower facilities are in urgent need of upgrading, with the roof also leaking. These upgrades were planned prior to the COVID pandemic, however, they have been paused. The plans have had a rethink to make them suitable for social distancing measures in the return to play protocols. This will extend to the improvement of other changing spaces at the the club for training and matches. These increased facilities will also help with the launch of the junior teams in the future. Pitch & Surrounds Our pitch is in need of repair due to a lack of regular maintenance in recent years. There is an amount of investment required to bring the pitch back into a reasonable condition, which will be supplemented by this crowd funder should we exceed our original target. Return to Play The return to play protocols will also extend to training, which in turn will need the acquisition of new equipment to allow socially distanced training sessions (balls, cones, hand sanitizer, portable floodlights etc). 1613918044_20e3b74b-1390-47ab-b5f0-0d0ab07aa037.jpg 1613918055_f24afb81-cb7f-40f1-a90d-30591ee65364.jpg HOW DO WE BOUNCEBACK? We have two main aims from this crowd funding initiative: 1. Raise funds to improve the clubs changing and pitch facilities in line with pre-existing plans and to allow for COVID secure training 2. Provide a support fund for members affected by the pandemic to benefit from Should we exceed our funding target of £10,000, we would use any funds to: Invest in the facilities over and above what is already planned Install new pitch side barriers Build storage areas Invest in our own maintenance equipment Develop further our plans at Green Park Our ability to bounce back stronger is reliant on the success of this fundraising campaign as well as the tremendous input of all our volunteers. As a thank you to those who donate we are offering a range of rewards that include opportunities to receive club benefits and support for businesses in the local area. Your donation, small or large, will help the club to continue to offer rugby activities to over 250 local people aged 13 to 80. 1613310835_93658604_1499538243560066_8934638561118912512_o.jpg PROGRESS OF PLANS Our developments will be photographed and will be shared on all of our social media channels. We would love to welcome you all to come and join us when it is once again safer to do so and see the results for yourself. View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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