Help the Adders recover
from the impact of Covid-19
and build for the future.
Like many, the Club and our members face a significant challenge in recovering, but we are determined to bounce back! Please play your part in helping us to ensure that both current and new members may continue to play, coach, manage, umpire and support hockey locally.
We are …
a community hockey club run by volunteers with a vision of providing affordable hockey to everyone regardless of age or ability. Our Bounce Back Campaign is intended to ensure that we are able to do just that.
"so many families, all part of the one Adders family"
We face …
challenges on many fronts, including:
- Significant loss of income following the season’s premature closure and cancellation of key fundraising events
- Loss of summer activity impacting on player welfare, retention and recruitment
- Uncertainty over the timetable for the new season
- Likely challenges in delivering the schools programme and driving junior recruitment
- Pressure on the Club’s cashflow given loss of income and future uncertainty
However, these challenges also present a great opportunity to return stronger and in better shape, better prepared and equipped to deliver the Adders’ brand of hockey in the “new normal”!
We will …
- Bounce Back – a campaign that underpins the Club’s “return to play” strategy
- launch a new Coaching Philosophy and Plan for the new season
- expand the Scholarship Fund supporting younger players to commit to the Club
- introduce a Hardship Fund to ensure that those facing financial troubles may continue to play hockey
- develop a new Volunteer Recognition and Support programme to recognise the Club’s coaches, umpires and young leaders
- broaden the Schools Programme, increasing the opportunities for young people to play hockey
- extend our engagement with the local community piloting and introducing new initiatives
and your support can make this happen!
"Young people are at the heart of the Club" - Joseph Kobrin, Chair
You can help …
The Adders are Crowdfunding in order to raise funds to help cover the loss of income and to ensure that we have the additional funds necessary to Bounce Back to Hockey.
Our target is to raise £10,000 in total and we are hopeful that Sport England might contribute significantly towards this. However, Sport England’s support will be conditional upon us first raising £5,000 – that’s our initial challenge and the Club can help. We have a number of rewards to thank those supporting us, including free tickets to the Bounce Back Party and new T-shirts (perfect for returning to training). A number of local businesses have agreed to support us and further rewards will follow.
For those able to contribute a little more, please consider sponsoring a match day or indeed a team. Whilst we have outlined a few of the benefits, we would be pleased to provide a more bespoke solution according to the needs and wishes of a prospective sponsor.
More specifically, we will…
Invest in improving facilities at our TQEA pitch. With restrictions around access and social distancing likely to continue and impacting on the experiences of players, coaches, umpires and supporters, we will need to offer some additional cover, increase seating, improve signage and ensure a most welcoming environment for all.
Support the Club’s new Coaching Philosophy and Plan with investment in new equipment. Current restrictions around the sharing of equipment also require us to increase the amount of equipment available to support back to back sessions when in more usual times the same equipment would otherwise have been used.
Support more players through the Club’s Scholarship programme. This has been central to the Club’s recent successes ensuring that players, most usually aged 16 – 24, are able to commit to the Club whilst also balancing the needs of continuing their education, part-time and full-time employment. The programme also requires players to commit to supporting the Club, perhaps umpiring, coaching or managing junior teams. Last season, this support totalled almost £900 and it is hoped that we might double this in the new season.
Introduce a Hardship Fund. Whilst the Club has always looked favourably on those struggling to meet the financial demands of playing for the Adders, the current post-lockdown climate provides a hitherto unseen and challenging time for many of our members. The Club has already committed, despite the loss of more than £5,000 since March, to maintaining all subscriptions and fees at last season’s levels whilst also formalising support for those now struggling to play and pay.
Recognise and reward the Club’s coaches, umpires and young leaders. The Club wishes to subsidise the provision of clothing for those volunteers who give so much to the Club whilst also expanding the opportunity for more to attend and complete training, workshops, courses etc.
Expand the provision of hockey in local schools ensuring greater access to support for teachers, the delivery of more sessions in schools and increased opportunity for schools to participate in local competition. In short, we will reach a greater number of children, predominantly from the Primary age group, and get more young people playing! Last year the Club spent more than £1,000 in this area and would like to double this figure in the year ahead as we come to terms with operating in a different environment.
Extend our engagement with the local community. Having been a nomadic club for many years playing in neighbouring boroughs and indeed counties, the laying of an all-weather pitch in Atherstone almost ten years ago was the catalyst for the Club's resurgence. Engaging young people remains a top priority, but given a far greater awareness of the Adders across the town and surrounding area and a great reputation as a family-centred club, we are well-placed to extend our Back to Hockey initiative, build on the Hockey Heroes programme and pilot a Walking Hockey project. The Club's support of Santa's Sleigh is legendary and provides an annual reminder of the power of pulling together!
Despite having lost significant income over the summer – monies that would usually fund much of the above – the Adders are confident that with your support and that of Sport England, we can deliver and indeed Bounce Back Stronger!
"Lockdown didn't stop the Adders doing it the Adders way!"