Social Sundays at the sports Pavilion – 10.00 – 12.00 noon

Social Sundays provide tea/ coffee, bacon rolls, cheese scones, cakes, company and chat!

Statement made by the Trust on 15 Sept 2023

The Sports Field Pavilion Trust is a charity responsible for overseeing the “use of a pavilion serving both sporting activities, recreation and leisure activities for inhabitants of the Bildeston community” as set out by the Trust Deed 1980. The facility is entirely reliant on donations and rental fees to cover the annual running costs and maintenance which have dramatically increased over the past few years. The Trust has tried to keep fees as low as possible relying upon reserves/grants and fundraising by dedicated trustees to cover the shortfall. Bildeston Rangers are part of a number of different groups that hire the pavilion but are the biggest user of the facility, utilising the changing rooms, kitchen, and communal area for training sessions and hosting visiting teams. All the cost of these amenities is covered entirely in the rental fee and NOT borne by any hirer.

Formerly, the football club represented by Mr Lorimer was a Trustee until resigning in August 2023 citing time constraints that hindered his ability to attend monthly meetings. Nonetheless, the remaining trustees have strived to enhance the pavilion’s appeal, making it more attractive for hiring and fostering fundraising activities. The Trustees have tried to initiate fundraising activities with the football club e.g. 5 aside tournament this summer but volunteers were unavailable to assist.

The pavilion is there for the local community and not just for sports clubs. Volunteers host a fundraising “Social Sundays” breakfast club, providing a gathering place for Bildeston residents. Volunteers initiated being part of the Governments “Warm Places”, providing not just warmth but companionship and hot meals for the elderly residents who struggle with cost of heating and living. A local toddler group use the pavilion weekly, providing a place for young parents and children to gather for playtime and discussion, all staffed by volunteers. These groups all pay the hiring fee regularly and on time which hasn’t been the case for Bildeston Rangers.

Mr Lorimer although a former Trustee may like to think the pavilion is only about football, the reality is the Trust provides a service to the wider community, much of which goes unnoticed. The perpetual challenge to cover costs will remain ever present and the difficult decisions of increasing hiring fees is never made lightly. Nevertheless, to ensure the pavilion’s continued functionality, financial sustainability through generated revenue, costs will need to be covered and that is a challenge every charity faces today as well as the need for volunteers.

Bildeston Sports Field Trustees.