A warm welcome to Clare Brown who joined us in

January as the Centre manager. 

She shares the job with Karil Greenhalgh

Clare

 

Karil Greenhalgh

Karil is also the manager of the the Lingfield & Dormansland Volunteer Centre

 

 

 

 

The Chairman's report to the AGM on 17 June 2010

Whilst performance during 2008-9 has not been easy, the Centre has been successful in achieving a slight improvement in occupancy levels over the previous year with income from lettings showing a 5% increase.  However, lettings during the winter of 2009-10 were 5% less than budgeted with some classes finding it hard to maintain numbers.  

Usage of the IT facility increased significantly especially in the area of ‘one-to-one’ training and this resulted in doubling the income from 2008-9. Overall, total income was down by almost 20% at £44,109, the major part of the drop resulting from a significant reduction in grant income. 

 

The hours the Centre office was open had been increased with a presence during most weekday afternoons.  This has proved popular but obviously had not come without cost.  As always, maintenance costs for the building have been high, and as a result some costs have had to come out of reserves.  Reserves have been reduced to a level that means significant refurbishments may have to be postponed unless grant funded.

 

Finding ‘grants’ has proved more difficult than in previous years, however we do thank most sincerely the Lingfield Marathon Committee and the Lingfield Eco Awareness Group for their support, and to the Parish Council for help towards overhauling the Hall lighting (in our 2010/11 accounts).

 

Our fundraising events included four plays and a quiz night.  Although we were not always able to attract a capacity audience, the plays were well received and produced much needed additional income to the Centre.  We will be continuing with this policy of bringing theatre to the local community during 2010.

Richard Holroyd has done an excellent job in organising the plays that come to Lingfield, but he is finding it difficulty booking Arts Council funded plays, since funding is retracting and the types of plays allocated funds don’t necessarily suit our audience.  The A27 Theatre Company are running a sequel to Mandrolina’s Inn in October called Maximum Diner, but tickets may cost in excess of £30 so we have declined to present this feeling it is too expensive for our clientele.  The next booked play will be about life in Little Upper Downing Village on the 13^th February 2011 from the same production team as Crocosmia last May 2nd.

 

For the next year (2009-10) we will continue with our programme of fundraising initiatives, increasing our user base and enhancing the life of the members of the community.

 

In December 2009 Hilary Wilkins retired as Centre Manager.  However, we are delighted that Clare Brown has taken up the reins working alongside Karil.  We have charged Clare with developing publicity and encouraging a wider usage of the Centre.  Clare has already booked 5 new classes at the Centre so our situation looks more encouraging, though a couple of these are struggling with numbers. Clare has her eye firmly fixed on marketing and publicity and ensuring the Centre is the Heart of the Village.

 

Sadly Claire Thomas has had to resign from the management committee since her new job has taken up all her time.  We miss her and wish her well in her career.  We are actively looking to take on new committee members to help shoulder the load, though the work is not onerous.

 

I would like to thank all my colleagues for their hard work and support during the past year.  Tim Pool has kept a steady hand on the financial tiller and Peter Francis has kept us abreast of our legal requirements. Ian Dobson has maintained a careful eye on our property services portfolio. Thank you to Anna Baker, who can’t be here tonight, but who has taken on the chore of being our minute secretary and does a superb job.  This has been a team effort and I am very grateful to one and all. We also owe a huge debt of thanks to Clare & Karil for running the Centre on a daily basis and for Betty’s industry in keeping the books in order.  Thanks also to Doug Hales for caretaking and for maintaining such wonderful flower displays. Sadly, Doug has retired as caretaker and we are in the process of finding a replacement. Finally thanks to Liz for keeping the Centre clean.

 

This is your community centre and we would like to hear from you.  What would you like to see at the Community Centre?  Are there any activities that would help encourage you and your families and friends to use the Centre more often?  Film nights; Ballroom Dancing; Guitar and Folk nights; Indoor markets for DIY?  Please tell us!  The next major event will be the Lingfield Art Show summer exhibition which takes place this year from Tuesday 20th July to Sunday 25th July.