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Update from B & A RFC

| 28/05/2020

Dear Member / Supporter.

Firstly, we hope that you and your families are keeping safe and well during these difficult times.

There are many important things to be focused on for all of us. However, there is also sport!

At Bridgwater and Albion, we have been working hard to keep our Club going so that, once this is all over, we can all enjoy sport at College Way once again.

To update our members and supporters on the Club’s situation; the Committee has been meeting weekly (virtually) for the last nine or so weeks to discuss our options, opportunities and actions to ensure that we get through this whilst having little or no Club income.

The ‘lockdown’ and its associated restrictions meant that we, immediately, lost most of our income. We can’t play sport, let the building, open the bars or develop sponsorship or commercial income. So, we had to reduce costs drastically and look at all the support opportunities open to us.

What we have done so far:

  • Early on we furloughed all staff to ensure that we had the ability to operate when we can restart sport and commercial business.
  • We have reduced all fixed and variable costs to a minimum, including leases, finance, and utility costs.
  • We have had support through various government initiatives in business cost reduction, including Business Rate payment ‘holiday’, local government grant and payment deferments.
  • We have explored and applied for numerous grants, preferential loans, and governing body support.
  • We have launched a Crowd Funding page to fund our requirements for pitch investment.
  • We have continued to provide facilities for Blood Donations.

It has been a difficult and unique challenge for us. Our staff have all been supportive and understanding of our actions. My colleagues on the management committee have been working tirelessly to explore all avenues to maintain our Club’s existence and future and I have nothing but admiration for their commitment and determination to ensure that Bridgwater and Albion continue their long existence well into the future.

We are determined to learn from this experience and subsequently develop a stronger Club for the future of sport at College Way.

However, the Club is a member’s club and as such members are encouraged to support the Club, even though we are currently out of season and unsure as to the starting date for 20/21 season.

We are keen for any ideas for income generation, during these restricted times (email Club Secretary to: danielle@barfc.co.uk), and that all members and those supporters who are not currently or historically members join as members for the coming season. Also, visit the crowd funding site @ Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bridgwater-amp-albion-rfc-covid-19-crowdfunder?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

We look forward to meeting everyone when life returns to normal and we can all enjoy sport at College Way and the club house can once again be the thriving facility we need it to be.

With Regards

Steve.

Steve Smith

Club Chairman

Bridgwater & Albion RFC

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Category: Club News

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