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Annual report: Hardwick Sports and Social ClubTuesday, 27 May 2008 About the clubHardwick Sports and Social Club Limited (the “Club”) was registered as a company under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 on 25 June 2001 and operates under a set of club rules. The Club operates for the benefit of its members. The rules do not allow any distribution of profits, or assets on a winding up to be made to the members. Any profits are re-invested in the Club for the benefit of its members. To join the Club it is necessary to become a member to comply with licensing regulations. Individuals become members by being proposed and seconded by existing Club members and by paying a small annual subscription. The great majority of members are from Hardwick with a smaller number from adjoining villages and the Club encourages as wide a membership as possible. As at the end of 2006 the Club had approximately 450 members. The Club supports sporting and other activities in the village. Members of Hardwick Football Club among others were instrumental in founding the Club and remain an important supporter of the Club albeit forming less than 20% of the past and current membership. The Club is run by its officers and a management committee who are elected annually by the membership. The Club opens each evening at Hardwick Pavilion from midday at weekends and from 6:00 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays and some Wednesdays if not booked for community use. Community use takes preference over any other activities on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A youth club operates on Tuesday evenings and a Friendship club meets on Wednesday afternoons. The Club occupies the Pavilion under the terms of a lease from Hardwick Parish Council which expires March 2013. No rent is payable under the lease but the Club pays all the running costs of the Pavilion and for all leasehold improvements including some major refurbishments which benefit not only the membership but also community users, sports clubs and spectators. The club also pays half the costs of the village cleaner who helps keep the village tidy and litter free. The Club has a disciplinary committee to recommend appropriate actions in respect of misconduct by members. The disciplinary committee meets promptly to deal with any such misconduct on a fair and consistent basis which can include long periods of suspension or expulsion. Review of 2007The Club continued to provide bar facilities and a wide variety of popular entertainment. The Club offered a range of snack meals but this did not prove popular and was discontinued during 2007. The Club has kitchen facilities for the provision of food for special events and may reinstate snack meals if there is sufficient demand. The Pavilion is used by Hardwick Football Club, Hardwick Harriers Football Club, Hardwick Cricket Club and Hardwick Netball club who operate adult and junior teams. The Club has provided a place to meet and socialise for these clubs and their spectators and has also provided sponsorship and support of over £1300 to these clubs and to pool and darts teams during 2007. The Club has also donated £385 to local good causes. The Club is fortunate to have Diane Rason as Club Manager and an experienced and friendly staff to welcome and serve members. The Club has a policy of maintaining and improving the Pavilion facilities. During the year the Club undertook a major refurbishment of the main room to coincide with the introduction of the smoking ban. The refurbishment has been widely welcomed and the Club now provides a modern and attractive venue. The Club met on several occasions during the year with Hardwick Parish Council to discuss and agree improvements to the areas outside the Pavilion. The improvements which are ongoing have been funded by the Club and the Parish Council and the seating area outside the Pavilion is now extended and much improved. The Future of the ClubAll the main officers of the Club wish to stand down from their roles as officers this year and as yet there is little sign of anyone willing to take on these important roles. Some of those officers have been with the Club from its inception and have seen the transformation from a run down and vandalised Pavilion to the attractive venue it now is. It has been hard work by unpaid volunteers who have had to overcome some difficult problems in the past to achieve the dream of a friendly and successful social club for the village of Hardwick. It is now time for others to step forward and take on the challenges for the future. |
