Dear Underriver Resident/Club Supporter,
I am writing on behalf of Underriver Cricket Club to explain why the Club is seeking financial help in completing the works we need to undertake to repair our pavilion.
As many local residents will know already the Club can trace its origins back to a cricket team established in the 19h century by Underriver House. UCC was one of the first clubs to host games for disabled WW1 veterans and one of our regular fixtures is still played against a team called the Invalids. The Club can call on about 35 players (male and female) with ages presently ranging from 15 to 76. In addition, there are many social members attached to the Club. We play Saturday league games as members of the Kent County Village League and friendly fixtures against (mostly) local teams on Sundays. In winter the Club is involved in indoor matches. We run social events and an annual quiz night (sometimes twice a year!) to raise money for the club and charity.
We own our own ground and pavilion and are self-funding through subscriptions, match fees and money raising events.
Our pavilion is now some 35 years old. It was built of timber to comply with planning requirements, and needs a considerable amount of maintenance to keep it weatherproof as well as provide toilet, shower and kitchen facilities (UCC teas are often referred to as the best in the division!). A minimum standard of facilities needs to be provided to ensure that the Club can continue in the League.
However, the time has come, to quote Lewis Carroll. The showers are broken with an unreliable heating system, the toilets require replacing and the kitchen needs urgent work to ensure health and safety standards are met. In addition, cricketers these days have equipment that cannot be contained in the usual luggage of plastic carrier bags and small Gunn and Moore canvas bags (I am reminiscing now!) and the larger cricket bags with bats and helmets take up more space than can be provided by the present partitioning.
So, we have decided to get on with the urgent repairs – the eagle-eyed will have noticed that the veranda floor has been replaced and the stanchions supporting the roof have been replaced where (very) necessary. Works will then be needed to refurbish the toilets, replace the showers and the boiler, refurbish the kitchen and also rearrange some of the internal partitions to provide more space for the changing area.
We have two estimates to date (much reduced due to the voluntary input of members) and intend to proceed with the lower estimate of £17,500. £8,500 of this will come from Club reserves built up for the purpose, and we intend to fund the remaining amount by way of fundraising events, voluntary contributions and grants from any bodies which may have funds for such a purpose. Regrettably, our application to Sport England was turned down. We are only a small club and our scheme seems to be too modest for their criteria However, I will say that already local support and generosity has been of great assistance in getting the ball rolling.
If you feel able to support the Club in our venture then please make any contribution to our Hon Treasurer and the details are below.
If you would like any further information then do not hesitate to contact me (iantbatty@aol.com).
As a Community Amateur Sports Club, UCC is able to reclaim the basic rate tax on any donation (any donor will be sent a Gift Aid declaration to be completed). Furthermore, if the donor is a higher rate taxpayer, any donation is tax deductible by the donor.
We can accept a donation in cash, by cheque or bank transfer (but not credit card). Any cheque should be made payable to Underriver CC and mailed to Chris Close, UCC Treasurer, 15 Knole Way, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3RS.
Any bank transfer should be made as follows:
Account number: 25862316
Account name: Underriver Cricket Club
Sort code: 60 – 19 - 02
[ref: your name/”donation”]
With many thanks in anticipation!
Ian Batty Hon Sec UCC
I am writing on behalf of Underriver Cricket Club to explain why the Club is seeking financial help in completing the works we need to undertake to repair our pavilion.
As many local residents will know already the Club can trace its origins back to a cricket team established in the 19h century by Underriver House. UCC was one of the first clubs to host games for disabled WW1 veterans and one of our regular fixtures is still played against a team called the Invalids. The Club can call on about 35 players (male and female) with ages presently ranging from 15 to 76. In addition, there are many social members attached to the Club. We play Saturday league games as members of the Kent County Village League and friendly fixtures against (mostly) local teams on Sundays. In winter the Club is involved in indoor matches. We run social events and an annual quiz night (sometimes twice a year!) to raise money for the club and charity.
We own our own ground and pavilion and are self-funding through subscriptions, match fees and money raising events.
Our pavilion is now some 35 years old. It was built of timber to comply with planning requirements, and needs a considerable amount of maintenance to keep it weatherproof as well as provide toilet, shower and kitchen facilities (UCC teas are often referred to as the best in the division!). A minimum standard of facilities needs to be provided to ensure that the Club can continue in the League.
However, the time has come, to quote Lewis Carroll. The showers are broken with an unreliable heating system, the toilets require replacing and the kitchen needs urgent work to ensure health and safety standards are met. In addition, cricketers these days have equipment that cannot be contained in the usual luggage of plastic carrier bags and small Gunn and Moore canvas bags (I am reminiscing now!) and the larger cricket bags with bats and helmets take up more space than can be provided by the present partitioning.
So, we have decided to get on with the urgent repairs – the eagle-eyed will have noticed that the veranda floor has been replaced and the stanchions supporting the roof have been replaced where (very) necessary. Works will then be needed to refurbish the toilets, replace the showers and the boiler, refurbish the kitchen and also rearrange some of the internal partitions to provide more space for the changing area.
We have two estimates to date (much reduced due to the voluntary input of members) and intend to proceed with the lower estimate of £17,500. £8,500 of this will come from Club reserves built up for the purpose, and we intend to fund the remaining amount by way of fundraising events, voluntary contributions and grants from any bodies which may have funds for such a purpose. Regrettably, our application to Sport England was turned down. We are only a small club and our scheme seems to be too modest for their criteria However, I will say that already local support and generosity has been of great assistance in getting the ball rolling.
If you feel able to support the Club in our venture then please make any contribution to our Hon Treasurer and the details are below.
If you would like any further information then do not hesitate to contact me (iantbatty@aol.com).
As a Community Amateur Sports Club, UCC is able to reclaim the basic rate tax on any donation (any donor will be sent a Gift Aid declaration to be completed). Furthermore, if the donor is a higher rate taxpayer, any donation is tax deductible by the donor.
We can accept a donation in cash, by cheque or bank transfer (but not credit card). Any cheque should be made payable to Underriver CC and mailed to Chris Close, UCC Treasurer, 15 Knole Way, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3RS.
Any bank transfer should be made as follows:
Account number: 25862316
Account name: Underriver Cricket Club
Sort code: 60 – 19 - 02
[ref: your name/”donation”]
With many thanks in anticipation!
Ian Batty Hon Sec UCC
