Thank you for visiting our page.
Like many community based projects and premises, we have struggled to continue to provide our facilities to our community during what has been exceptionally challenging times within the pandemic. Our staff, members and patrons have had to continually adjust to new ways of working and, at times, accept that their club could not open.
Who are we?
We are a small community Village Club, leased from the Village Trust, run by a standing committee who are all volunteers and local residents of Buckden and the surrounding area.
Our village of Buckden, in Cambridgeshire, has significant historical interest and natural beauty, drawing new residents and visitors alike. Our Village Club has a membership scheme with circa 200 members, giving discounted prices on products available. Non-members are welcomed and there are no requirements to be a member to use the Club. The Club, whilst hosted by the Village Hall Trust (a charity), is a not for profit organisation and any profits are reinvested back into the Club to enhance the Club’s facilities.
What’s currently happening?
The past two years have been difficult... Moving forward, there is real hope that we can develop new and existing ways to improve our support to the community and ensure that there is an effective and sustained income source to keep us viable. As a community based club, Buckden Village Club (BVC) has much to offer and, with a fresh start committee and dedicated small team of staff, wants to make sure it offers a place to come for everyone.
As spring arrives we are starting to see confidence returning and more people are starting to come together, if cautiously. We wish to continue to offer a safe environment and listen to community comment about how we can continue to support this. Some of our members and patrons are particularly vulnerable and we wish to ensure we can develop facilities that recognise and support their concerns and needs.
So, in 2022 we will need to manage fundraising activities to ensure the club’s liabilities, made difficult by lockdown closures, are reduced. We will improve BVC revenues to enable the club to sustain its operations for the future. Any profits made will be put back into the Club, which is a not for profit organisation.
What’s our plan?
The new committee has a recovery plan in place to recover the clubs position through 2022 and our crowd funding is just one of many ways in which we will work to return to profit as quickly as possible.
1. To maintain and improve the BVC to provide food and drinks for the whole community to enjoy
2. To manage fundraising activities throughout 2022 and improve BVC revenues to enable the Club to sustain its operations for the future. Any profit made will be put back into the Club. Operating costs have exceeded revenue and therefore a recovery plan will be agreed to endeavour to improve BVCs position through 2022 and establish an improved operating model for the future
3. Consider all options in relation to the ethical and legal operation of BVC
4. Increasing the marketing and promotion of BVC including events, facilities and activities it provides to seek a wider interest from the local community and respond to their requests and needs where possible
5. Establish a community focused crowd funding activity, with a target to raise £25,000 which will enable BVC to redevelop internal and external facilities over the next twelve months, ensuring the stability of the Club’s position within the community.
Why is it important?
We have so much to offer... There are a variety of amenities within walking distance of the Club which attract young families throughout the year, including a safe play area for smaller children, a basketball area and tennis courts, and we will shortly be adding a ‘zip line’ for older children. Sporting facilities include Football and Cricket pitches and other sporting fixtures are played on the field opposite the Club.
A yearly music festival is held (Buckfest) which attracts over 2,000 people to the Village. This is held on the field situated in front of BVC. Buckfest donate monies raised to a wide variety of local charities. As a Club, we want to be able to assure those involved in putting on this cultural experience for the community that BVC will be a key contributor to its success, year after year.
The Village Hall have access to the BVC bar for events which brings in revenue for the Club. The Hall is regularly rented out for all sorts of events, including Dancing, Weddings, Children’s Parties, Shows, community groups, exhibitions, exercise classes, Zumba etc.
Whilst some of our visitors are seasonal, there are many local people who come to the Club to meet, drink and socialise. The Club is an-inclusive space; as well as the lively music sessions, tv sports and quizzes, older residents welcome the chance to socialise and meet friends. Elderly and vulnerable people and their carers feel it is a safe space to socialise in familiar surroundings. Everyone is welcome, including dogs who enjoy both inside and outside spaces.
With the support of crowd funding we aim to invest in improved facilities for both inside and outside spaces, creating a more cohesive environment that meets the needs of individuals and families within our community.
thank you for your help. It all makes a difference.