STATEMENT FROM OUR CHAIRMAN, SIMON CARKEET

A huge thank you to all members who have purchased their membership for this season. Like many clubs, we are facing a difficult and challenging year with lots of unknowns.

Sadly, we are not fortunate to own our own grounds or club house, which means we pay for our usage and don’t receive any revenue stream from food or drink purchased at Chapel Gate.  During a normal season, our revenue income comes from membership, sponsorship, annual youth and mini festival, match day income and shop revenue.  Naturally, with no senior matches, festival cancellation and dramatically reduced sponsorship income, this has left a huge gap in lost income.  As a club we exist to provide rugby across the community, the provision of these facilities and the day to day running of the club costs the club substantially.

Our Executive Committee team and staff are continuing to work tirelessly behind the scenes to source other revenue streams and keeping the club functioning at this difficult time.  However, as a member club, all players are required to pay to support us being able to facilitate rugby, and ensure players are insured under the clubs’ RFU affiliation.  This season, more than ever, we need the support of playing members to adhere to this. 

We of course value all of our volunteers, supporters and social members and ask as a club for us all to pull together by purchasing membership to support the club’s activities in its desire to make improvements to our community’s physical and social health, wellbeing and overall functioning.

In July, our Colts and Senior players returned to training and we have seen a fantastic team effort with great numbers at training and a positive mindset.  I personally wish to thank those senior players who are usually sponsored and have their membership fees covered by the sponsorship, who have kindly agreed to pay their full membership regardless.

Youth and Mini players have been training for 8 weeks, again we have seen great numbers returning to the club.  Thank you to all parents who have purchased their family or child (s) membership.

There continues to be a lot of unknowns and we appreciate and understand that some of you may be concerned with what happens if lock down stops training.  We sincerely hope this doesn’t happen.  This will of course be out of our control, and if it does happen, we have a plan in place.  Every player will be able to take part in weekly remote trainings lead by our enthusiastic coaching team who are committed to continue improvement of skills, mental health, wellbeing and of course team spirit. 

As a club we have always taken the decision that membership has to be paid by the middle of October.  However, to continue to support our members, we have extended the deadline for membership to be paid by 8^th November.  To ensure fairness across the board for all members, sadly we do have to be strict, if your membership fees have not been paid or you haven’t let us know of any serious financial challenges, we will have to restrict non members from access to training.   Naturally, we do not want to have to turn anyone away from playing rugby, but as a club we need fairness across the board.

Please remember to help and support all members, you can purchase your membership in one payment or there is a Direct Debit option to spread the cost. 

We understand that everyone faces difficult times during this period, and we would never want to turn people away from the club because the cost of membership is out of reach. If you think you will seriously struggle to meet the cost of membership for you and your family, please talk to your Team Manager or to Gemma our Membership Manager [membership@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk] in confidence. It is important that everyone can continue to play rugby this season.

Please remember membership provides you or your children’s playing insurance and gives you an opportunity to invest in our club personally; to enjoy being part of the club and the value it gives; to experience an increased sense of belonging and comradeship through the sport we love, in your local club.

Should anyone wish to raise any questions to the Executive Team, please do get in touch with myself in the first instance [chairman@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk]

Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support and we will keep you posted on developments.

Yours in Rugby

Simon Carkeet

Chairman