Moulsford Village Website!

03/07/10 Pavilion Update: Cracking On and Getting Closer!

Good news! We’ve secured Grant extension from SODC for our £250,000 grant award which means that we will be on solid commercial ground to award demolish and build contract. We’ve also had the definitive ruling we wanted from HMRC on VAT for the build which is another piece of good news!

We are now reviewing prospective contractor responses to our tender documents and good news is that we will be keeping the Pavilion available for all the summer socials!

So based on what we know today with tender responses and grant awarder requirements, we expect to award demolish & build contract in August 2010 with demolition starting at the earliest in September. Build completion expected to be sometime between December and early in New Year depending on contractor selected.

We still have approximately £2,500 of pledge payments outstanding so if you were kind enough to pledge and haven’t paid up yet then please could you pass pledge cheques now, payable to Moulsford Parish Council, to me, any Parish Councillor, Parish Clerk or any of the project team Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore!

We really would like to have all pledges collected and before the award of any build contract. If you forgot to pledge, or are new to the village, then don’t worry as we’d be delighted to accept any donations and every little bit really does help and there really is no “minimum”!

Thank you to those who have newly pledged in the last couple of months – all appreciated! As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

05/06/10 Pavilion Update: Cracking On! – Remaining Pledges Due in Now Please!!

Good news! We’ve now signed formal Grant Agreement with SODC, issued tender documents to prospective contractors and with a temporary “loan” from the Parish Council to take account of pledges outstanding, have proven to SODC that we have the hard cash to fund the non-grant part of project. All these activities together represent another major stride forward with the project!

By 4th June we had over £23,000 of pledges paid up so big thank you to those who have paid up so quickly! Thank you also to Kay Martin who kindly donated takings from the sale of her Chocolate World chocolates at one of the Friday May socials.

We still have just under £4,000 of village pledges to collect now so if you were kind enough to pledge and haven’t paid up yet then please could you pass pledge cheques, payable to Moulsford Parish Council, as soon as posible to me, any Parish Councillor, Parish Clerk or any of the project team Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore now!

We really would like to have all pledges collected in June and before the award of any build contract. If you forgot to pledge, or are new to the village, then don’t worry as we’d be delighted to accept any donations and every little bit really does help and there really is no “minimum”!

Based on what we know today, we still expect to award demolish & build contract in late June/early July 2010 with build completion likely in December 2010. Expectation is that we’ll be able to use the Pavilion for part of July but date of its demolition will depend to a degree on contractor selected.

25/04/10 Pavilion Update – Pledges Due in Now Please!!

Good news! We’ve passed the 90% pavilion funding point which means the trigger to call in the pledges has been reached!

So if you were kind enough to pledge then please could you pass pledge cheques, payable to Moulsford Parish Council, to me, any Parish Councillor, Parish Clerk or any of the project team Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore now!

We really would like to collect the pledges as soon as possible so that we can unlock our main grant! To do so, one of several conditions is that we have that we have to prove we have the hard cash to fund the non-grant part of project.

By 23rd April we’ve had over £3,000 of pledges paid up so big thank you already to those who have already paid up! Thank you also to Grainge Auto Services of Benson who – as advertised in Moulsford News – have kindly donated 5% of all jobs from Moulsford in December, January and February and thanks also to the Spinning Club for their recent donations.

If you forgot to pledge, then don’t worry as we’d be delighted to accept any donations and every little bit really does help and there really is no “minimum”!

Other updates are that the internal design of the new pavilion has been adjusted to accommodate grant award and our own requirements and we’re poised to issue tenders to contractors in next few weeks.

So as highlighted in February Moulsford News, based on what we know today, the realistic point when we expect to award build contract is June 2010 with build completion likely in sometime in late in 2010.

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. For the very latest update before the next edition of Moulsford News then come along to the Parish Council AGM, the last one in the “old” pavilion at 8pm on Wednesday 19th May. Thanks, Miles Powell.

01/03/2010 - Pavilion Update - Activities Underway As Planned

As highlighted last month, many build preparatory activities now underway. By the time you read this article we will: have appointed the construction project management organisation, be poised to sign the revised legal grant agreement with SODC, be well on the way to having all funding secured, have all the supporting documentation for our last grant application and have several other supporting activities underway. The construction project management organisation role includes assistance with the selection of build contractor and then ensuring that the build is completed as planned.

No change to what was highlighted in last months Moulsford News in that we expect to be calling in pledges in March/April 2010. Of course if you have pledged and want to pay now to help reduce the overall administration efforts then please do so by contacting any of the project team, Parish Clerk or any Parish Councillor. We’re also on track to submit one more grant application in early March and would expect decision before end of April 2010.

No change either to build activity either so based on what we know today, the realistic point when we expect build activity to start is around June 2010 with completion likely sometime in late in 2010.

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks this month in particular to Richard Apley of Richard Wilson & Co Solicitors who has kindly provided legal advice and assistance for the Pavilion Project.

28/01/10 - Pavilion Update – Great News!

Great news in just before Christmas was that we were successful with our WREN grant application and have been awarded a full “£50,000 grant towards the eligible costs of our project!”. This is another great achievement both to get the grant and also to get the maximum award!

We have one more grant application poised to submit and expect decision on this one before end of April 2010.  And news hot off the press is that the Moulsford Village Events Committee has just donated a further £8,500! - so big thank you Rosemary and team!

We’re almost there with funding and based on what we have secured to date, and are planning, then we expect to be calling in pledges in March/April 2010. Much as we’d like to crack on with the build now, until we have all funding secured, we can’t “unlock” the SODC or WREN grants. Similarly, had we attempted to start the build then we’d have ruled ourselves out of potential awards from other grant organisations.

So, based on what we know today about the build preparatory activities, the realistic point when we expect build activity to start is around June 2010 with completion likely sometime in late in 2010.   In parallel with all the build preparations there are a number of other activities that either are or planned to be underway so that the project as a whole is set for success.

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

27/11/09 Pavilion Update

2009 has been a great year for the new pavilion project and 2010 is going to be even better!

We’ve achieved a great deal in 2009: securing planning permission in March, topping all 19 SODC project submissions to be awarded grant of £250,000 in July, kicked off the pledge activity in May and to date have almost £26,000 pledged, raised over £600 from the 100 Club this summer, had donations from Cricket Club and Moulsford Village Events Committee, and supporting events such as the Moulsford Gala Dinner - and charity auction that raised over £4000!

The situation today is that we’ve made the “first cut” on another key grant application with decision date in mid December and then one other grant submission pending. Much as we’d like to crack on with the build now, until we have all funding secured, we can’t actually “unlock” the SODC grant. Similarly, had we attempted to start the build then we’d have ruled ourselves out of potential awards from other grant organisations.

So, based on what we know today, after refining the internal layout a little further to comply with grant awarder requirements and our own needs, then we expect build activity to start around March 2010 with completion likely sometime in summer 2010.

In the meantime then, please keep those pledges coming in – every bit really will help! So big thank you for village support to date, the Parish Council, Moulsford Village Events Committee , the Cricket Club and of course the project team.

So have a very happy Christmas start looking forward to having a fantastic new Pavilion in the New Year - and a great venue for the village, your own family and friends events in 2010!

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

31/08/09 New Pavilion - Good News! Good News!

Good news! Pledge activity is well underway although clearly had a summer holiday! A very big thank you to all those who have returned Pledge forms – since the end of June we have had a further £12,000 pledged to take us to fantastic total of just under £23,000! – but we need a little bit more!!

If you haven’t pledged yet, don’t be shy! - you’ll find a Pledge Form in this months edition of Moulsford News. There really is no minimum amount to pledge and every little bit really does help so please don’t miss this opportunity to contribute towards what is going to be a fantastic facility for the village.

If pledging has been on your “to do” list but you just haven’t got round to it yet then now is the time to act please!

Good news! Congratulations to the August 2009 Pavilion “100 Club” winners Pamela Howe (£50 winner), Twinks Kerr (£30) and Peter Ackers (£20). Many thanks to all villagers who helped to sell and buy “100 Club” tickets throughout the summer.

In total we sold £1005 worth of tickets, paid out £400 in prize money in May, June, July and August and generated £605 for the new Pavilion building fund. So thank you all for your support and to the Ents committee bar staff for also encouraging sales!

Funding and build update. We have several more grant awards pending before the end of 2009 and we expect to hear about two other grant applications in the next four weeks.

We have re-applied for the £50,000 grant we narrowly missed out on in July 2009 (decision in December 2009) and have some other other funding options under review. Grant awards we have to date do not become accessible unless we can prove we have all funding in place.

What this means is that while our grant applications are being considered, we need to keep the funds coming in through our own efforts through pledges and supporting village events such as the Moulsford Feast on 6th November all help! Providing we have all funding secured then we expect to start building in early 2010.

Any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk, give me a call on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

07/07/09 New Pavilion – Great News! Good News! Good News!

Great news! We have just secured £250,000 in grant funding from South Oxfordshire District Council and came top of all the projects they considered! This is a fantastic achievement against stiff competition and with only four projects being awarded funding this year. This is a massive boost to the project but we’re not quite there yet.

Disappointingly another grant application for £50,000 was unsuccessful at the final decision making stage but we’ve been invited to reapply later this year as we have an “excellent project” that at any other time would have secured grant funding.

It seems that the funding organisation was deluged with eligible projects and sadly we only just lost out based it seems on geography! What this means is that we need to keep the funds coming in!

Good news! Pledge activity is well underway so a big thank you to all those who have returned Pledge forms – in June we had a further £5,000 pledged to take us up to almost £11,000 which is great – but we need more!!

If you haven’t pledged yet, don’t be shy! - you’ll find a Pledge Form in this edition Moulsford News so please don’t miss this opportunity to pledge your support for the Pavilion build for what is going to be a fantastic facility for the village. Please complete Pledge Forms and return by 31st July 2009.

Good news! Congratulations to the July 2009 Pavilion “100 Club” winners, Nigel Baker (£50 winner again!), Pat Ashton (£30) and Matt Jennings (£20).

Thanks to all villagers who bought “100 Club” squares in June; we sold a total of 54 numbers generating £270 which after prize money of £100 means £170 into new Pavilion building fund so thank you for your support – and please keep buying more numbers through the summer! - and keep supporting the Village events!

Any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk, give me a call on 01491 652871 or have a chat at one of the Friday Pavilion socials. Thanks, Miles Powell.

30/05/09 New Pavilion – Good News! Good News!

Good news! Pledge activity is underway so a big thank you to all those who have returned Pledge forms – as at 31st May almost £6,000 has been pledged which is great!

If you haven’t pledged yet, don’t be shy! - you’ll find a Pledge Form on the back page of this Moulsford News so please don’t miss this opportunity to pledge your support for the Pavilion build for what is going to be a fantastic facility for the village. Please complete Pledge Forms and return by 30th June 2009.

Good news! Congratulations to the first of the 2009 Pavilion “100 Club” winners, Nigel Baker (£50), Barry Newman (£30) and Justin Hardy (£20 - Larissa collecting!).

Thanks to all villagers who bought “100 Club” squares in May; we sold a total of 60 numbers generating £300 which after prize money of £100 means £200 into new Pavilion building fund so thank you for your support – and please keep buying more numbers through the summer!

30/04/09 Pavilion – Good News! Good News! Good news! Good news!

Good news! Moulsford Cricket Club agreed at their AGM to donate £250 to the new Pavilion build which is another great boost from the main sporting user of the Pavilion so another big thank you!

Good news! We’ve made the “first cut” on two of our key funding/grant applications with positive feedback on our submissions. Response from other funding/grant application submissions expected through May/June. Final decisions are expected in June and early July 2009.

Good news! Pledge activity highlighted in March is launched to the village! You’ll find a Pledge Form in the May edition of Moulsford News so please don’t miss this opportunity to pledge your support for the Pavilion build for what is going to be a fantastic facility for the village. Please complete Pledge Forms and return by 31st May 2009. Friday night socials kick off on 1st May 2009 so please do continue to support these – and other – village events and the “100 Club” as all funds raised will directly help toward the new Pavilion build.

Good news! We’ve tripled the chance of winning a “100 Club” prize this year!!

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul and Karen Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

31/03/09 – Good News! Good News! Good News!

Good news! In early March got planning permission approval for the Moulsford new Pavilion so thank you to all those in the village who have been supporting us! - your support really has made a difference! SODC planning commented that we got planning permission as “…the proposed development is not significantly unneighbourly, is in keeping with the character and scale of the recreation ground, enhances the special landscape of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and accords with the Development Plan policies”.

Good News! Within hours of planning permission approval, Moulsford Events Committee gave the Pavilion project a massive boost with a cheque for £7,000 taking our funds secured to date to almost £50,000! Rosemary Garner pictured above presenting the "cheque" to Richard Chapman.

Good News! Moulsford Cricket Club have also agreed at their AGM to donate £250 to the new Pavilion build which is another great boost from the main sporting user of the Pavilion so another big thank you!

Funding is the next challenge for the project; while the planning approval activity was progressing, project team activities have included preparing a number of funding/grant applications and two totalling £80,000 have now been submitted.

We expect to be submitting further applications totalling just under £300,000 over the next 4 weeks with decisions for many of them in early July 2009. Friday night socials will be kicking off on 1st May 2009 so please do continue to support these – and other – village events and the “100 Club” as all funds raised will directly help toward the new Pavilion build.

We’ll also be getting the pledge activity highlighted in the March Moulsford News off the ground shortly. Recall this is where individuals pledge an amount they want, and there is no request for payment of this amount until, for example, 90% of the estimated cost has been raised or guaranteed. The pledges would be valid for a specific period from the date signed.

As always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

04/03/09 Breaking News!

Good news just in! We have now got planning permission approval for the Moulsford new Pavilion so thank you to all those in the village who have been supporting us - your support really has made a difference!

SODC planning commented that we got planning permission as

“…the proposed development is not significantly unneighbourly, is in keeping with the character and scale of the recreation ground, enhances the special landscape of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and accords with the Development Plan policies”

More to follow here shortly and in Moulsford News!

27/02/09 Pavilion Update – Inching Closer!

Big thank you to those who took the trouble to submit positive comments in support of our planning permission submission for the new Pavilion. All being well we hope to have planning permission approval by 6th March 2009.

While the planning approval process has been going on, project team activities have included preparing a number of funding/grant applications. These will be submitted as soon as planning permission approval is confirmed.

We have had good, positive feedback for our project from key grant providers which is good news. Funding of the whole project is important as many grant awarders do want to see that that the cost of the whole project is funded (or that plans are in place to bridge any gaps) and that the applicants are also contributing – which we are!

Many people in the village were open to donating funds to get a new Pavilion and over the next few months everyone in the village will have the opportunity to pledge rather than donate.

The subtle difference is that with the pledge we’re considering, individuals pledge an amount they want, and there is no request for payment of this amount until, for example, 90% of the estimated cost has been raised or guaranteed. The pledges would be valid for a specific period from the date signed. More details to follow.

Assuming we get planning permission in March and do successfully secure adequate funding then there is the real chance that we could have building work kicking off at the end of the Friday Night Social Season in September 2009 and a new Pavilion up and running in time for either a Moulsford Christmas 2009, New Year bash as well as a great venue for your own family and friends events in 2010!

So, as always, any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact any of the project team - Sarah Allen, Frank Worthington, Phil Hopkins, Christine Ferry, Paul Gilmore or me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

25/01/09 Pavilion Update – Planning Permission Underway!

Hurrah! - our planning submission is now in for the new Pavilion and as reported in the Wallingford Herald last week, all being well, we hope to have planning permission approval by early March 2009.

While this approval process is going on, the project team are preparing a number of funding/grant applications that we can kick off as soon as planning permission approval is confirmed.

No single grant or funding source will cover the costs of construction and the reality is that we expect it to be a patchwork of sources including: SODC, what the Parish Council has in the building fund (£40,000 today), what we as a village raise this year through events and 100 Club, other grant providers, village donations, business donations, any other donations and legacies, preferential loans.

Recall that from our Village Survey in Summer 2007, over two thirds of survey respondents said that they would be willing to donate funds to get a new Pavilion, so assuming each of these 66 households donated £100 then £6600 is a great contribution! If you were one of the respondents who replied that you would be willing to donate funds then stay tuned as project team likely to be in touch shortly!

Nailing down funding specifics is clearly important and many grant awarders do want to see that that the cost of the whole project is funded (or that plans are in place to bridge any gaps) and that the applicants are also contributing – which we are!

As highlighted in previous updates, many large companies have Community Affairs programmes as part of their Corporate and Social Responsibility activities and often will contribute to such projects. So if you are employed by/own/work with such a company that has such a programme then do let us know as we’d be interested in your help in exploring this further now that we’re that much closer to getting the new Pavilion realised.

Moulsford Village Pavilion

30/10/08 Pavilion Update – Planning Permission Kicks Off!

Final drawings for Pavilion planning permission submission are shown here with minor changes based on architect site visit in July and village feedback over the summer at the socials.

Briefly, changes include: (1) being south facing, there was greater scope to use more glass so some full length glass on doors and windows onto playing field (2) Kitchen layout tidied up – kitchen store and other store moved across the corridor (3) Verandah extended along the whole of the rear elevation and (4) both loo’s unisex.

We have now reached agreement with architects for costs associated with planning permission and design. This is important as we wanted to be able to cap these costs and be crystal clear about what our liabilities would be.

Good news then is that the formal planning permission activity has now kicked off so submission will likely be with SODC in mid-November and and if all goes as planned then we now hope to have full planning permission in December/January timeframe.

Any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk, give me a call on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

29/08/08 New Pavilion – 100 Club Winners! - Thanks!

Congratulations to the July “100 Club” winner, Stephanie Musk pictured here collecting £100 prize with her lucky number 13 being drawn by Richard Chapman at the Pavilion Social on 25th July.

Congratulations also to Valerie Newman who won the August “100” Club with number 99 drawn at the Pavilion Social on 29th August – Valerie’s prize pictured with Richard! And correction for June, winner was Kirsty Brown!

Big thanks to everyone who has bought “100 Club” squares in June, July and August at the Pavilion Socials.

In total, and in spite of some bad weather evenings, total prize money was £300, and we have banked £735 towards the New Pavilion building fund so thank you all very much for your support! – it really is appreciated.

Expect to see “100 Club” at upcoming village events such as Autumn Quiz, Moulsford Feast, likely with cheaper squares for draws on the night!!

We’re now expecting the final drawings for planning permission submission in the next couple of weeks and if all goes as planned then we now hope to have full planning permission in October/November this year. This is our next key milestone as with full planning permission approved we are then able to apply for specific funding opportunities that have been identified by the project team.

Any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk, give me a call on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

28/06/08 New Pavilion - Activities Cracking On!

Congratulations to the first New Pavilion “100 Club” winner, Kirsty Brown, pictured here collecting £100 prize with her number being drawn by Richard Chapman at the Pavilion Social on 27th June!

For those of you who have missed the last couple of Pavilion Friday nights, the “100 Club” was launched on Friday 13th June and the concept is very simple: 100 squares numbered 1 to 100, each square costs only £5 and each month one lucky number will be drawn and win £100!! - and we’re licenced by SODC to do so.

The July “100 Club” will start on Friday 4th July so be sure to get in early to buy your lucky number at the same time as buying a drink!! Pavilion project team are interested in hearing from you if you want to help develop the “100 Club” so that everyone in the village has opportunity to win £100 i.e. not just a Friday evening Pavilion Social activity. If you completed the Village survey last year and offered to help the team with fundraising activities then this is your opportunity to come forward!

Thanks to all villagers who bought “100 Club” squares in June; we sold a total of 90 numbers in just 3 weeks generating £450 which after prize of £100 means £350 into New Pavilion building fund so thank you for your support – and please keep buying more numbers!

Other activities are being kicked off in the village to support the new Pavilion so look out for these e.g. 14th November buffet at Beetle & Wedge – read more in this edition of Moulsford News and thank you to all the people in the village who are making these events happen.

Other news is that following the Parish Council AGM on the 20th May 2008, and with approval to proceed from Parish Council, the Pavilion project team are now cracking on with getting planning permission underway. Many of you will have seen the footprint of the new pavilion marked out in yellow at the Friday Pavilion socials in June and informal feedback to team has been positive and supportive so thank you.

If all goes as planned then we hope to have full planning permission in September/October this year. This is our next key milestone as with full planning permission approved we are then able to apply for specific funding opportunities that have been identified by the project team.

Any queries or anything you think you can contribute to Pavilion project team activities then please contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk, give me a call on 01491 652871 or have a chat at one of the Friday Pavilion socials. Thanks, Miles Powell.

26/04/08 Moulsford News Exclusive! New Pavilion Plans Unveiled!

As highlighted last month, the initial design drawings for new Pavilion have been finalised and are previewed exclusively in Moulsford News and shown here also!

These plans will be talked through as part of the Pavilion Project Update at the Parish Council AGM at the “old” Pavilion on Tuesday 20th May at 8pm so put that date and time in your diaries now!

It’s our village and will be our new Pavilion so come along to hear what’s going on, organisations we’re working closely with, funding, what the project schedule is and plans for this year, what you can do to help and get involved and when we’re targeting to have the first village function.

Thanks also to those villagers who have expressed interest in getting activities started in the “old Pavilion”. These include Film Club, and potential table tennis club, craft club/workshop sessions and Shokotan karate so if you are also interested in any of these activities and went to get involved then let me know and I’ll introduce people to each other. Contact me at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or give me a call on 01491 652871. Thanks, Miles Powell.

26/03/08 Pavilion Project Update

As planned, initial design drawings are currently being finalised with the intention is to then showcase them to village at Parish Council AGM in May and to shortly after apply for planning permission. Recall that last month we highlighted that from the survey last year, there was clear latent demand across the village for participating in a number of activities at the new pavilion with the most popular being Film Club, Dance Classes, Kids/Youth Club and Aerobics as detailed in survey response table below:

	Households	Adults	Children
Film Club	46	84	26
Dance Classes	32	64	27
Kids/Youth Club	29	56	42
Aerobics	28	52	30

There really is no reason why these and other activities cannot get started now – as if they don’t then we’re unlikely to get funds granted. So we need volunteers please to get these activities “off the ground” now. So if you want to get one of these – or perhaps another activity – underway then in first instance drop me an email at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or give me a call on 01491 652871 in early April. Miles Powell.

28/02/08 “Ask not what your village pavilion can do for you!”

Our application to the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) got through to the final stage to be considered by the England Committee Chair! Even though our application was commended as having many good qualities we did not get offered a grant as BLF “received more good applications than we could fund”. So this funding route is now closed to us. This means that we’ll be relying on other funding sources which will likely result in new pavilion taking longer to get built.

Next steps for project team are to get initial design drawings finalised and building costs revised accordingly. The intention is to then showcase initial design drawings - and costings - to village at Parish Council AGM in May and to shortly after apply for planning permission.

Having full planning permission is a pre-requisite for some of the other potential funding sources we have identified. The reality is that although over two thirds of last years survey respondents would be willing to donate funds to get a new Pavilion, assuming each of these 66 households donated £100 then £6600 is great contribution but it doesn’t buy a huge amount of a new pavilion so we cannot confine ourselves to just raising funds within the village though.

Many large companies have Community Affairs programmes as part of their Corporate and Social Responsibility activities and often will contribute to such projects. So if you are employed by/own/work with such a company that has such a programme then do let us as we’d be interested in your help in exploring this further.

What all this means in essence then is that 2008 will be “acid test” time for whether village really does want a new Pavilion or not and to prove that what we had detailed as “latent demand” in the BLF application is real.

Other funding sources we’ve identified take a similar approach to the BLF and will want the proof points before providing any funds so we need this latent demand to be turned into reality. For example, recall from the survey last year, there was clear latent demand across the village for participating in a number of activities at the new pavilion with the most popular being Film Nights, Dance Classes, Kids/Youth Club and Aerobics.

There really is no reason why these and other activities cannot get started now – as if they don’t then we’re unlikely to get funds granted. So, with apologies to JFK!, “ask not what your village pavilion can do for you - ask what you can do for your village pavilion!” - so if you want to get one of these – or other activities – underway then let me or any of project team or parish councillors know.

Recall also that over 50 households were prepared to contribute to the project with inputs such as legal advice, financial advice, painting & decorating, labour, physical work, art & design, administration and time. All these offers will be taken up as the project progresses so thank you to all those who have offered to contribute to what really is - and will continue to be - a team effort.

30/10/07 Pavilion Project Update

The survey we undertook over the summer finally resulted in 97 households completing a survey questionnaire form which covered 180 adults and 67 children or 48% of the estimated village population of 520. Thank you to all those who did complete this survey and to team members who went door to door to collect responses. What jumped out from survey analysis was how much the Pavilion was the social hub of the Village for young and old alike.

Particular points from survey as follows:

> Of the 97 completed surveys, 92 households support replacing the Pavilion, 3 don’t know and only 2 said no. So an overwhelmingly positive response from respondents that included 19 households that didn’t actually use the Pavilion!

> Clear that the Pavilion is very much the social hub of the Village with Summer Socials the key fixture but many other activities catering for wide range of ages and interests

> There is clear latent demand across the village for participating in a number of activities at the new pavilion with the most popular being Film Nights, Dance Classes, Kids/Youth Club and Aerobics

> Sizing of new Pavilion looks likely to be around being able to accommodate 120 people seated and there was a huge response in favour of a having a bar facility and likely that we’d consider having a temporary stage also.

> Over two thirds of respondents would be willing to donate funds to get a new Pavilion which was a good indicator of tangible support for the project.

> Over 50 households were prepared to contribute to the project with inputs such as legal advice, financial advice, painting & decorating, labour, physical work, art & design, administration and time. All these offers will be taken up as the project progresses so thank you to all those who have offered to contribute to what really is a team effort.

Separately, Big Lottery Fund evaluation of our funding application has been progressing and already our application is one of the 545 that was successful in progressing through the initial assessment stage. After phone interview in September our submission was commended as being “a good application with good evidence of consultation”.

Next steps are that we expect to hear outcome of Grants Committee in early December. If our submission gets approved at Committee then we have passed Stage One of the application then we go into Stage Two which is the more detailed planning phase before we’d finally be awarded any funds. We have actually done very well to get as far as we have so far by all accounts!

Next key activities for project team in next couple of weeks will be getting initial designs and planning permission underway through SODC with objective to have planning permission approved no later than March 2008 so expect to be consulted further in the coming months and to see initial designs proposed!

30/06/07 ‘Moulsford Village Pavilion – Project Update!’

Thanks to everyone who has completed and returned the “Pavilion Survey” form that came with the last edition of Moulsford News. We still need more responses though!

So in July and possibly into August, the Pavilion Project Team will be following up door to door around the village to collect completed forms. We will have spare forms with us in case you’ve mislaid the original!

Only Miles Powell, Sarah Allen, Paul Gilmore, Christine Ferry, Rob Longden, Frank Worthington & Phil Hopkins will be collecting and all of us will carry photo ID.

We really do need your help by completing this survey. Why? - because we’d like your views on what you really want from your new building before we move activity much further forward!

All responses will help us to secure funding and the sooner we get this, the quicker we will have a new Pavilion! If there is limited support for the project then team activities will likely go “on hold”.

Once we’ve completed the door to door activity then the responses will be analysed and a summary will be in the next Moulsford News.

27/05/07 'Moulsford Village Pavilion – Have Your Say!’

Complete and return the “Pavilion Survey” form that came with this copy of Moulsford News by 30th June 2007 and you could be line for a £100, £50 or £25 prize!

The project team have been busy and we need your help by completing this survey. Why? - because we’d like your views on what you really want from your new building before we move activity much further forward! - and all responses will help us to secure funding.

Rest assured that our intention is to have a building that is financially self-supporting and our research over the last few months on similar projects indicates that we are on track.

Team activities over the next few weeks include engagement with Village user groups, Phil Hopkins leading this, and focusing on fund raising activities initiatives. £90 has been donated in the last week to our new building by the “Hairy Legs Challenge” event organisers as Lisa Hoskins, Frank Worthington and Miles Powell stood in the rain for several hours as event marshals!

Congratulations also to Richard Apley and Fiona Blyth – winners of the March/April Pavilion competition. Picture shows Chairman of Parish Council, Richard Chapman presenting Richard Apley with the Champagne prize!

28/04/07 Project Update

Team focus since over last few weeks has been ensuring that we have all the detail and justification for the “Big lottery” grant application that was submitted by 30th April 2007. Recall the “Big Lottery” grant was potentially the largest source of funds for our project so we were keen to ensure we had the highest probability of success! We won’t know if we have been successful for this stage 1 of 2 application and we know from our research that few grants seem to be awarded – we’ve given it our best shot though!

The team will now be kicking off a number of activities over the next few weeks including (1) detailed village consultation – likely a questionnaire delivered to your door to be collected by project team so expect to see some of the team on your doorstep at some stage! (2) village user group consultation and (3) identification and applications for project funding.

Many of the team members will be at the Friday socials and we intend to provide informal updates at these sessions and we’re keen to get your ideas for fund raising initiatives! Any queries, suggestions, fund raising ideas please contact Miles by email at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk or by phone on 652871.

And finally winners of Win a Bottle of Champagne competition were Fiona Blyth and Richard Apley at Cranford Barn! - Congratulations!

29/03/07 Community Building Project Update & Opportunity to Win Champagne!

The project team has been busy cracking on with a number of activities over the last few weeks.   The Lottery application form is almost complete and we’re on track to submit before the deadline of 30th April 2007.   You’ll all have read in the press about the spiraling cost of the Olympics and “top-up” from Lottery so we not putting all our eggs in one basket for major funding from the Lottery.

The team has also been busy speaking with people in other villages about their experiences for new halls and pavilions and we’ve also visited several sites as well. Our objective has been to learn from the experience of others, to find out what worked, what didn’t and get some top tips. We got some good insights that will help us on our project be successful.

Some great stories as well: one village that sold their church to raise funds for their new village hall (!); another had a villager donate £50,000; at another village, at the opening of the new hall, the entire village turned with everyone holding a huge ribbon encircling the hall - then everyone cut the ribbon and had a piece to take home! – many of which now appear in homes as framed memento’s of the day!

As you all know, we already have a great start to funding our new Pavilion with almost £25,000 from the Moulsford Parish Council. Over the next few weeks the project team plan to scope the funding and fundraising in further detail and we’d like your help – and you could win a bottle of champagne for doing so!

So while the project team focuses on the more obvious sources of potential funding such as Lottery, Councils and other public bodies, we’re keen for your inputs as to what you think we could do to raise funds. We’ve got some initial ideas for raising funds and we’re keen to understand which ones you would consider supporting, this way we’ll be able to better focus our fundraising efforts.

We’re not confining ourselves to just raising funds within the village though. Many large companies have Community Affairs programmes as part of their Corporate and Social Responsibility activities and often will contribute to such projects. So if you are employed by/own/work with such a company that has such a programme then we’d be interested in your help in exploring this further.

So, please tick the suggestions that you would consider supporting and add any others that you think could also work and return your completed slip to any of the Moulsford Parish Councillors (addresses on back of Moulsford News) or any of the Pavilion Project Team – Miles Powell, Sarah Allen, Paul Gilmore, Christine Ferry, Rob Longden, Frank Worthington, Phil & Gemma Hopkins. Alternatively, if you really don’t want to tear your copy of Moulsford News, just email your response to milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk.   Responses by Monday 16th April please and winner will be drawn at random at Moulsford Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 17th April 2007 at the “old” Pavilion.

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YES – I’d like the chance to win a bottle of Champagne!

Initial fundraising ideas that I would consider supporting (PLEASE TICK)

     Individual pledges                                   Auction of promises

     Business sponsorship/pledges                    “Buy a brick”

     Sports tournament                                  Quiz night

My suggestions for other fundraising ideas are as follows - and I’ve ticked the ones I’d consider supporting:
              ___________________________________________________________________

                     ___________________________________________________________________

My name:          ________________________________________________________________

My address:     ________________________________________________________________

22/02/07 - New Pavilion project activity has now kicked off in earnest! Team comprises Miles Powell, Sarah Allen, Paul Gilmore, Christine Ferry, Rob Longden, Frank Worthington & Phil Hopkins and kick off session took place on Monday 19th February 2007.

Our immediate priority is focused on ensuring that we have all the detail and justification for the “Big lottery” grant application form that has to be submitted by 30th April 2007. This is likely to be the biggest source of funds for our project so we’re keen to ensure we have the highest probability of success!

There is quite a lot for the team to do ranging from getting advice from agencies such as Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC), seeking insight, advice and comments from other recently built village hall representatives so that we learn from the experience of others - and don’t reinvent the wheel - all the way through to identifying additional funding sources including pledges, donations and matched funding opportunities.

We’re taking account of the village feedback from the open session held on 3rd November 2006 to crystallize the design brief and specification of what we really want as our new pavilion e.g. size, facilities.

If you weren’t able to attend the open session and have comments/inputs then please send them to Miles at milesp@moulsfordweb.co.uk by Sunday 4th March 2007.

As the project progresses it is quite likely that we will need to draw on skills, knowledge and contacts in the village so don’t be shy in coming forward if asked to assist!

Both the village website and Moulsford News will be kept updated with project activities so if you can’t wait for the Moulsford News update check online at www.moulsfordweb.co.uk under the Sport & Recreation section.

03/11/06 Project Kick Off!

Village Pavilion Future - Public Meeting took place on Friday 3rd November 2006 at 7.30pm in the Village Pavilion.

Objective was for all in the vilage to come along and make their voice heard as the Parish Council discuss options for improving or redeveloping the building.

Consenus was that there was overwhelming support for activities to enable a new pavilion to be funded and built so watch this space for more information and developments.

Thanks to this support we also had a number of people who volunteered to assist with project activities to get the new pavilion activity underway. Miles Powell has been delegated by the Parish Council to take charge of this project and Miles and Sarah Allen will be getting activity underway with the volunteers in mid January 2007.