Orrell & Winstanley Community Sports Club - our Joint Venture with Winstanley Park Cricket Club 14 of 18

14. Project Status February 2019


[]ORRELL & WINSTANLEY COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB (OWCSC)
A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN ORRELL RUFC AND
WINSTANLEY PARK CRICKET CLUB

Project Update February 2019

Overall Project Status
The project will access the land in October/November 2019 -which is earlier than anticipated. Construction will now begin in June 2020 on both rugby pitches and hopefully finish around October 2020., ready for playing rugby in September 2021. The cricket square sowing itself is anticipated to start in late August/ September 2020; ready for the start of or mid-2022 cricket season.

That’s the good news but key to all of this is the fundraising we are all doing. Both clubs need to provide ‘additionality’ in support of all our grant submissions (to demonstrate that all our members are committed to seeing the project through to a successful completion) and therefore inspire confidence within the grant authorities.

Organisational Structure
Our application for CASC status has been submitted. The rules state its main purpose must be to provide facilities for and promote participation in one or more eligible sports. It must be non-profit making, be open to all and not pay its players, - although expenses may be paid. Benefits accrue from Local Authority rate relief and ‘tax back’ payments from any Gift Aided donations.

Orrell RUFC has been incorporated as a rugby section and WPCC has been incorporated as a cricket section within OWCSC with effect from 1st December 2018. Both “sections” lost their individual legal entity on that date but Orrell RUFC will continue to play rugby under that banner and WPCC will continue to play cricket under their own banner.

The top-level structure of OWCSC has been agreed and sub committees will also be developed. The club is looking for willing volunteers to sit on the sub-committees for both rugby and cricket to help develop and promote the work of the club and the project in general.

Rugby Section Update
Discussions and meetings have been held with the RFU who are very supportive of the project and the proposed design and will help with funding and grant support. The conditions laid down by the planners will be finalised and addressed with completion of these anticipated by May 2020. The final surveys for the design and construction of the fencing will begin from spring this year through to March 2020.

The above work will then allow the rugby section to prepare the land for the 2 rugby pitches between June and October 2020; ready for rugby in September 2021!


Cricket Section Update
WPP met with the ECB/LCF recently and received positive feedback. The ECB/LCF are very supportive of the project; the cricket ground design and the likelihood of getting grant support - particularly if in 2020 fiscal year - which fits in nicely with the timescale above. You may or may not know, that the ECB recommends 18 months to 2 years to create a mature square so, if blessed with good autumnal conditions for seed fertilisation, WPCC may start playing in either April 2022 - mid 2022 or at the latest the start of the 2023 season. Now that may sound like a long time off but WPCC have a three-year window on their current facility from date of initial land access which sees them through to the end of the 2022 season.

Fundraising
Our fundraising is progressing well and between both clubs, we have secured some donations and pledges but now we have our timeline, both clubs need to step things up further from now so that we meet our target of £200K “additionality” by the time grant submissions are started in September 2019.

So, how can you help?
We have a full calendar of fundraising events, some old and some new. We introduced some very successful events to our fundraising calendar last year including a Beer Festival; Bonfire Night and this year we are introducing a Ladies Ascot Ladies Day (to be held at Houghwood Golf Club… no travel to Ascot required just a chance to dress up and pretend you are at Ascot).

Our next big event is the Orrell RUFC Sports Dinner on 23rd March; there will be pub cricket on 24 May; a golf day on 14 June; we’re hoping to put a Touch Tournament in the summer calendar together with this year’s Beer Festival and WPCC’s famous “Stars in Your Eyes”. All the teams continue to fundraise and do their bit with bag packing, race nights and raffles in order to raise monies.

Donations are always gratefully received; and all donations will be rewarded – including those received to date - will be displayed within the clubhouse (once finished). Perhaps if you haven’t responded to our brochure appeal of last year you could please revisit what we are trying to achieve - we need your help to build on our funds. Make your pledge or donate now!

Better still, you could volunteer to get involved and help us fundraise or organise an event. Whatever it is, please get involved and help us not just raise the monies we need but achieve our ambition of a new home for both clubs and provide a facility and legacy for the community of Orrell & Winstanley and beyond.

If you would like any more information or details on any of the above (or the project in general) please contact either Mike Shore or Tony Dillon at WPCC or Tony Havlin at Orrell RUFC.

Working together – we can achieve!
Working together to build a legacy for the community of Orrell & Winstanley