As a direct result of your support for the ‘Save our Gymnasts’ campaign and a year of behind-the-scenes negotiations by a determined and persuasive group of parents, we are delighted to announce that a new charity (Southport & Ainsdale Gymnastics Club Charity no 1163781) which will trade as Southport Gymnastics Club has been set up to run the Gymnastics Club. The parent group, some of whom are now the trustees, wish to say a huge thank you to all who signed the petition in July 2015.
The trustees have secured a rent-free two year lease of the premises and will take over the running of the Club and employment of the staff from 1st September 2016.
We are now looking forward to resuming gymnastic classes on 3rd September and celebrating our new ‘independence day’ as a Club with everyone.
However, we have to remember that the Club has had a temporary reprieve. It had not been ‘saved’. At least £350,000 will be needed to purchase the Club premises before the lease expires. This is a huge task for the club members and they will need your support.
At the same time as starting the huge task of taking over the business, we have a mountainous task of raising £350,000 within two years. Therefore, we are looking for donations, large and small. Can you donate as much as you can, perhaps £5 or £50 or £500? The Club is a jewel in the crown of Sefton and it needs your support to secure its future.
Supporters can make donations via the BT MyDonate website….and, for every £1 donated, the Club gets an extra 25p from the government as Gift Aid. When the ‘select charity name’ comes on your screen, just select Save our Gymnasts. Alternatively click https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/saveourgymnasts. You then enter your name, address and details to pay the donation amount by card (ideally debit card as this attracts the lowest transaction fee)
Please forward this email to grandparents, relatives, friends and other supporters who will help the Club….. and we will be delighted if you wish to do a fundraising challenge. If you do, please tell us about it. There are some great ideas around. You can use the MyDonate website to collect your sponsorship money too!
If you are a parent of a gymnast, please forward this email to other Club members who may not have received it. We do not have access to the Club membership database at present. This Change.org database is the best way for us to contact as many members and supporters as possible at present.
If you have any query, please email the Club at gymnasticssouthport@gmail.com We will welcome any fundraising ideas or sponsorship offers.
The gymnasts have a mountain to climb. Please help them on their first steps so that they achieve their first donation target of £50,000 by the end of the year. Success on the first target will breed success on the next ones!
The Fundraising Team, Southport Gymnastic Club, email gymnasticssouthport@gmail.com
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