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More local groups get
Council backing
St Mary’s Junior Sailing Club have received a grant to help them achieve their dreams of a new
headquarters and clubhouse.
The Club currently has a concrete garage and a wooden hut which they use as a Clubhouse and
store. Both buildings need replacing and after working particularly hard to raise in excess of £50,000
towards the £60,000 cost, the club requested a grant of £5,000. This will help with the installation
of new concrete bases and buildings complete with electrical supply, giving the club a new lease of
life.
The club began in 1966 and is used by children of all ages and abilities as well as local schools.
After acknowledging the great work done in teaching, training and entertaining children, Members
awarded them the £5,000 requested and wished them well with their project. It is hoped the old
buildings will now be demolished by September with the new buildings in place by Christmas.
Another nautical group requiring funding was the 5thGosport Sea Scouts, who are based at the
Earl Mountbatten Hall in St Lukes Road. Founded in 1909, they currently provide training and a
ctivities for around 82 Gosport youngsters. Some remedial work has taken place on their ageing
hall to try and improve things, but their kitchen, which is now over 20 years old, is in urgent need of
replacement.
The cost of a full refit is £12,535 but a more urgent need is a new cooker, their old one having been
condemned. With no means of providing food, one of their main sources of fundraising, the group
desperately require a new catering size cooker, and a request for £2,185 was made.
Members applauded the Units work which provides young people with a healthy hobby, teaches
them skills and respect and also keeps them out of trouble. They awarded £2,185.
Next to address the panel was Gosport Working Menfs and Trades Union Club, based in Lees
Lane, Gosport. With around 500 members, all Gosport residents, the Club provides entertainment
and activities and a home to a football, darts, crib and snooker team, OAP club, as well as a much
needed function room for the community.
Sadly the age of the building means it is falling into disrepair and, although lots of the members are
tradesmen who help with repairs whenever they can, the roof is in need of specialist repair. Water
is seeping in and as well as the damage it is causing, pools of water are collecting on the floor
where it could result in an accident. The club like many in these difficult financial times is struggling
to make ends meet, and if the leaks are not fixed soon they fear they may have to close for Health
& Safety reasons leaving charities, weddings and the OAPs without a venue.
Speaking in support of the club, Chairman of the Grants Panel, Councillor Peter Chegwyn said:
“I would hate to see such a long standing and popular Club fall by the way, not least for its members,
but also for the facilities it provides for the community. We have so few venues in the Borough
already where people can hire a room for events such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.
But the club also provide a much needed venue for community events as well as most graciously
providing its rooms free of charge to charities such as Cancer Research.”
Members agreed the importance of the Trades Club, as it is affectionately known, as a community
facility to young and old alike and awarded them £4,000 towards the cost of repairing the roof.
Last to request a Capital Grant was Don Styler’s Physical Training Gym in Frater Lane, Elson.
Set up in 1961 the gym currently has around 1,000 members, 80% of which live in Gosport.
In these days of tightening our belts, many gyms are finding their membership down, but not so at
Don’s gym. Those who use the gym don’t go there for the plush changing rooms and spa facilities
but for a good old fashioned training session.
Don’s aim has never been to make lots of money, but to provide a healthy pastime for people of
all ages and abilities to enjoy. Thousands of people have found his style of training beneficial,
including the disabled. No one is turned away with trainers aiming to improve the fitness of
everyone who attends. Don is first to admit that not everyone who has trained with him over the
years has been a good boy to start with. But with Don’s support, guidance and strict training, many
have turned their life around, doing well and gaining a pride in themselves and in all they do.
The hall in which members train dates back to the Boer War and is housed in a dry-lined corrugated
building. In the 48 years he has been there, Don has maintained the hall to the best of his abilities,
never asking for help. Sadly it is now suffering from dry rot and corrosion and a grant is needed to
help with the maintenance and repairs in order that the gym can continue.
“The service Don has provided to the community over the years one cannot put a price on, and to
do so without ever asking for money or help with the repairs is amazing in itself,” said Councillor
Chegwyn. Members thanked Don for his service to the health and well being of Gosport people and
awarded £5,000.
The panel then moved on to discuss applications for Revenue Grants and the first to put forward
their case for help was the Bivol Trust.
The Bivol Trust formed in 1997 and provides skills, work experience and social opportunities for
young people with disabilities. This includes a Monday Art Group and a Friday over 20s Night,
allowing young people, some of the most vulnerable in society, to integrate with others of a similar
age to enjoy themselves and have fun.
The Trust requested a grant of £1,900 towards administration and organisation of such events and
was delighted to receive the full amount requested.
Hampshire Probation’s Area Intervention Unpaid Community Payback scheme is just that.
Offenders who are required by the Court to give something back to the community in payment for
their crimes, do so by helping out in the community with gardening, clearing up rubbish, painting
and decorating etc. Recently they have worked at the Leesland Sensory Garden; Cherque Farm;
Thorngate Halls, Rowner Infant School and the Scout Hall at Broderick Avenue. To enable them to
help even more people a grant of ’250 towards tools and a hedge trimmer were requested.
Recognising the help their unpaid work was doing for the community, the panel awarded them £250.
Cedar Oak have been operating in Gosport since 1992, providing a crisis pregnancy, post abortion
and loss of baby counselling service from their office in Bemisters Lane. Although none of the
members had heard of them or their work before last nights meeting, they acknowledged the need
for such a service and were delighted to assist in their plans to expand into schools with an
educational programme. Awarding them the £1,358 requested, the money will be used to upgrade
equipment and refurbish the offices to allow an increase on staff training which will in turn lead to an
increase in the provision of services and support.
Beyton Road Residents Association received £950 towards the cost of arranging their 4thAnnual
Fun Day, being held on the 30 August. This annual event has done wonders in restoring a
community which over a period of several years had received a lot of knocks, particularly from the
media. However the residents all know and realise it is a wonderful place to live with a real
community atmosphere and great camaraderie and pride in their area. The children have their own
Junior Warden Scheme with regular litter picks, and clean ups are also organised for the adults.
Outings, pantomimes, Christmas parties and of course the Annual Fun Day are all regular events
held to bring the community together.
Acknowledging the hard work done by organisers and having attended some of the events
themselves, Members had seen the difference the association had made to the community and
congratulated them on their achievements.
Gosport Dolphins Swimming Club was established in 1976 and currently has around 163 members.
They train at Holbrook Pool on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but in order to
organise the management side of their affairs better, they hope to take on office space at Holbrook
in order to centralise their records and paperwork. Currently information is held on an assortment of
Parents’ computers and the wish of the group is to take on an office, fit it out and centralise all the
records in a more professional manner.
If obtaining an office proves successful they require a grant of £1,200 in order to fit it out
as a full working office to include a computer, printer, software packages and other
necessary equipment. The panel supported the group which has helped many local
youngsters progress in their chosen sport and go on to compete at National levels, and a
warded them £1,200.
Council backing
St Mary’s Junior Sailing Club have received a grant to help them achieve their dreams of a new
headquarters and clubhouse.
The Club currently has a concrete garage and a wooden hut which they use as a Clubhouse and
store. Both buildings need replacing and after working particularly hard to raise in excess of £50,000
towards the £60,000 cost, the club requested a grant of £5,000. This will help with the installation
of new concrete bases and buildings complete with electrical supply, giving the club a new lease of
life.
The club began in 1966 and is used by children of all ages and abilities as well as local schools.
After acknowledging the great work done in teaching, training and entertaining children, Members
awarded them the £5,000 requested and wished them well with their project. It is hoped the old
buildings will now be demolished by September with the new buildings in place by Christmas.
Another nautical group requiring funding was the 5thGosport Sea Scouts, who are based at the
Earl Mountbatten Hall in St Lukes Road. Founded in 1909, they currently provide training and a
ctivities for around 82 Gosport youngsters. Some remedial work has taken place on their ageing
hall to try and improve things, but their kitchen, which is now over 20 years old, is in urgent need of
replacement.
The cost of a full refit is £12,535 but a more urgent need is a new cooker, their old one having been
condemned. With no means of providing food, one of their main sources of fundraising, the group
desperately require a new catering size cooker, and a request for £2,185 was made.
Members applauded the Units work which provides young people with a healthy hobby, teaches
them skills and respect and also keeps them out of trouble. They awarded £2,185.
Next to address the panel was Gosport Working Menfs and Trades Union Club, based in Lees
Lane, Gosport. With around 500 members, all Gosport residents, the Club provides entertainment
and activities and a home to a football, darts, crib and snooker team, OAP club, as well as a much
needed function room for the community.
Sadly the age of the building means it is falling into disrepair and, although lots of the members are
tradesmen who help with repairs whenever they can, the roof is in need of specialist repair. Water
is seeping in and as well as the damage it is causing, pools of water are collecting on the floor
where it could result in an accident. The club like many in these difficult financial times is struggling
to make ends meet, and if the leaks are not fixed soon they fear they may have to close for Health
& Safety reasons leaving charities, weddings and the OAPs without a venue.
Speaking in support of the club, Chairman of the Grants Panel, Councillor Peter Chegwyn said:
“I would hate to see such a long standing and popular Club fall by the way, not least for its members,
but also for the facilities it provides for the community. We have so few venues in the Borough
already where people can hire a room for events such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.
But the club also provide a much needed venue for community events as well as most graciously
providing its rooms free of charge to charities such as Cancer Research.”
Members agreed the importance of the Trades Club, as it is affectionately known, as a community
facility to young and old alike and awarded them £4,000 towards the cost of repairing the roof.
Last to request a Capital Grant was Don Styler’s Physical Training Gym in Frater Lane, Elson.
Set up in 1961 the gym currently has around 1,000 members, 80% of which live in Gosport.
In these days of tightening our belts, many gyms are finding their membership down, but not so at
Don’s gym. Those who use the gym don’t go there for the plush changing rooms and spa facilities
but for a good old fashioned training session.
Don’s aim has never been to make lots of money, but to provide a healthy pastime for people of
all ages and abilities to enjoy. Thousands of people have found his style of training beneficial,
including the disabled. No one is turned away with trainers aiming to improve the fitness of
everyone who attends. Don is first to admit that not everyone who has trained with him over the
years has been a good boy to start with. But with Don’s support, guidance and strict training, many
have turned their life around, doing well and gaining a pride in themselves and in all they do.
The hall in which members train dates back to the Boer War and is housed in a dry-
never asking for help. Sadly it is now suffering from dry rot and corrosion and a grant is needed to
help with the maintenance and repairs in order that the gym can continue.
“The service Don has provided to the community over the years one cannot put a price on, and to
do so without ever asking for money or help with the repairs is amazing in itself,” said Councillor
Chegwyn. Members thanked Don for his service to the health and well being of Gosport people and
awarded £5,000.
The panel then moved on to discuss applications for Revenue Grants and the first to put forward
their case for help was the Bivol Trust.
The Bivol Trust formed in 1997 and provides skills, work experience and social opportunities for
young people with disabilities. This includes a Monday Art Group and a Friday over 20s Night,
allowing young people, some of the most vulnerable in society, to integrate with others of a similar
age to enjoy themselves and have fun.
The Trust requested a grant of £1,900 towards administration and organisation of such events and
was delighted to receive the full amount requested.
Hampshire Probation’s Area Intervention Unpaid Community Payback scheme is just that.
Offenders who are required by the Court to give something back to the community in payment for
their crimes, do so by helping out in the community with gardening, clearing up rubbish, painting
and decorating etc. Recently they have worked at the Leesland Sensory Garden; Cherque Farm;
Thorngate Halls, Rowner Infant School and the Scout Hall at Broderick Avenue. To enable them to
help even more people a grant of ’250 towards tools and a hedge trimmer were requested.
Recognising the help their unpaid work was doing for the community, the panel awarded them £250.
Cedar Oak have been operating in Gosport since 1992, providing a crisis pregnancy, post abortion
and loss of baby counselling service from their office in Bemisters Lane. Although none of the
members had heard of them or their work before last nights meeting, they acknowledged the need
for such a service and were delighted to assist in their plans to expand into schools with an
educational programme. Awarding them the £1,358 requested, the money will be used to upgrade
equipment and refurbish the offices to allow an increase on staff training which will in turn lead to an
increase in the provision of services and support.
Beyton Road Residents Association received £950 towards the cost of arranging their 4thAnnual
Fun Day, being held on the 30 August. This annual event has done wonders in restoring a
community which over a period of several years had received a lot of knocks, particularly from the
media. However the residents all know and realise it is a wonderful place to live with a real
community atmosphere and great camaraderie and pride in their area. The children have their own
Junior Warden Scheme with regular litter picks, and clean ups are also organised for the adults.
Outings, pantomimes, Christmas parties and of course the Annual Fun Day are all regular events
held to bring the community together.
Acknowledging the hard work done by organisers and having attended some of the events
themselves, Members had seen the difference the association had made to the community and
congratulated them on their achievements.
Gosport Dolphins Swimming Club was established in 1976 and currently has around 163 members.
They train at Holbrook Pool on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but in order to
organise the management side of their affairs better, they hope to take on office space at Holbrook
in order to centralise their records and paperwork. Currently information is held on an assortment of
Parents’ computers and the wish of the group is to take on an office, fit it out and centralise all the
records in a more professional manner.
If obtaining an office proves successful they require a grant of £1,200 in order to fit it out
as a full working office to include a computer, printer, software packages and other
necessary equipment. The panel supported the group which has helped many local
youngsters progress in their chosen sport and go on to compete at National levels, and a
warded them £1,200.