Kitchen refurbishment

The Pitch

Problem statement

A club in the heart of the community, needing to attract more players, members and other clubs and organisations to use the club. The facilities are over 30 years old, the kitchen is cramped and not ventilated, we struggle to lay on food for home matches and other events. Our 3 year plan is aimed at increasing girls and women to play and take part in sport, as well as older people to play walking rugby. Our facilities are not welcoming and restrict what we can offer. We cannot cater for more than 30, heating up food cooked elsewhere and volunteers struggle to work in the space. A refurbished kitchen will help us achieve our aim and make the club more accessible to a wider membership.

Solution

Aim to extend, replace old units, flooring, cooker, sink and refrigerator with energy efficient equipment and install an extractor unit. This will provide a safe and healthy place for people to prepare and serve food, store items appropriately and be user friendly for other organisations to use. The funds will contribute towards buying all new equipment and materials and go towards installation. Impact of the project will be huge, saving money by catering in house, attracting more volunteers to work in the kitchen , better offer for the junior section, which is popular requiring kitchen facilities, and more appealing to those using the club, generating income to invest in more improvements.

Why are we best placed to deliver?

The club has a small and vibrant membership with volunteers on a committee who have a range of skills and experience and vision to improve the club. We have the experience to oversee projects and ensure funds are carefully guarded and spent wisely. The club has a Board of Directors (volunteers) that provide good governance and ensure control over funds and spend limits. We use local trades people, mostly community people associated with the club to carry out the work. We are refurbishing our toilets partly funded with an RFU grant, as the ladies became unusable. We hold volunteer days to clear up, clean and tidy the grounds to improve it and we are seeing some new members following COVID.

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

400 people

Who will benefit

Expected impact

Improved facilities will attract more members, social members and other organisations who don’t have facilities to use the club. More families with younger children will find the club appealing, and older people and those socially disadvantage and cannot afford to go out take comfort in a community facility with a kitchen where hot food and drinks are supplied. We were a warm hub for the town council last winter, and improved facilities means we can cater for more, rather than people having to bring food already cooked to the club.