SHENLEY CHURCH END
CRICKET CLUB

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11/04/2008 - MK COMMUNITY FUND GRANT COMPLETES SIGHTSCREEN FUND!

Shenley Church End Cricket Club announced they have successfully secured funding for their target of purchasing new sightscreens for Manor Fields ahead of the 2008 cricket season, thanks to a successful grant application to The Milton Keynes Community Foundation.

Chairman Ian Peacock and Treasurer Andy Peacock - who championed the bid - were "absolutely delighted" to announce the extra funding needed to secure the purchase of two sightscreens, and the added benefits to the club plying their trade on their Manor Fields home ground. Below is a club summary how the money was eventually raised - thanks to the MKCF.


During the 2007 cricket season it became apparent that the club would need to improve its playing facilities with the provision of sight screens at its Manor Fields ground.

This was primarily due to the requirements of the league it played in and the higher divisions, which the club aspire to, where they would be mandatory. The club members gave their full backing to the committee to proceed with generating funding proposals. These would include looking at grants, funding matching and fund raising within the club.

Sue Moss gave a presentation at a club committee meeting on funding principles, potential sources and fund raising opportunities for the club. These were well received and provided a sound basis for moving the project forward. It was agreed that any form of funding from outside of the club would be supplemented/matched by members raising money through various fund raising schemes. To provide focus within the club, the Sight Screen Fighting Fund (SSFF) was formed.

Coincidentally, 2007 was the club's 60th anniversary so a SCECC Sponsored Walk around the club's four previous and present grounds was organised. There was an excellent turnout from the club for this 12 mile walk, the weather gods smiled for the day and a token over of cricket was played at each ground on the journey.

There was some surprise from the security staff at Tesco in Bletchley however as the old Rodexians ground was now under tarmac - their car park. This did not prevent the intrepid 'cricketeers' who played in between parked cars and featured on the Tesco CCTV. Thank go to Tesco for contributing to the SSFF with some vouchers.

Our arrival at Rickley Park coincided with half time in two football matches where the players and spectators were a little surprised at the unscheduled entertainment. Off to Denbigh School playing fields in Shenley Church End then back home to Manor Fields. The final tally for the fund raising walk was £960.

Working alongside the internal fund raising various local sources of grants were being investigated. The one that fitted the bill for both the club and provider was the Milton Keynes Community Foundation. Following very informative conversations between the two parties, an application was underway.

This, rightly, involves a rigorous approach to the whole grant process which the club were very happy to provide. The completed application was delivered to MKCF for deliberation at their February meeting. The outcome was much awaited and the club received very good news that the Milton Keynes Community Foundation were prepared to grant £1,000 toward the sightscreens.

They were aware that this may incur a shortfall on the original proposal but the club agreed to raise the outstanding balance through continued fundraising during the forthcoming cricket season. It was time to order the sight screens for the 2008 season!

The Treasurer (Andy Peacock) spent some time researching prices and approached our preferred vendor with a reduced price proposal. This fortunately coincided with their end of year sales target and a deal was struck whereby the grant and fund raising monies covered the costs of the sight screens. The order has been placed and delivery is scheduled in time for the start of the new season.

Our thanks go to the Milton Keynes Community Foundation for their help in providing Shenley Church End Cricket Club with financial support for this much needed facility. The sight screens will provide a significant playing improvement to both the members of Shenley Church End CC and their opponents.

Ian & Andy Peacock
Chairman & Treasurer - Shenley Church End CC

© SCECC 2008 - Created and maintained by Simon Sidwell