Latics Blue Crew - Update

[oafcprozac]

Over the years Blue Crew has risen from a rag, tag and bobtail group of kiddies cheer leading at BP, to the successful Dance/Cheerleading group it has become today. Last year the group represented Oldham Athletic in the national finals in Stoke and won, giving the club some much needed positive coverage in a season of real doom and gloom. The girls provide pre-match and half-time entertainment at most home games and train hard twice a week, despite the club's financial input being none-existent.

 

Both my daughter and my wife are involved with Blue Crew and last night it was announced that The FA in conjunction with the local NHS Trust have vastly reduced their funding to community projects this year, meaning that the very future of (Get Active) Community projects like Blue Crew are at risk. (All part of Camerclegg cuts) The club have quickly announced to the group that no money will be available to fund the group from the club (we're not talking huge amounts), in fact the club won't even pay for a coach/transport for the girls to compete in the national finals again in November - Despite the girls actually representing Oldham Athletic!

 

After a difficult start, Blue Crew has become an Oldham Athletic success story that many girls from the Chadderton are proud to be part of, it'd be a travesty if all this hard work had to be scaled back or even disbanded.

 

If anyone on here can provide any sort of sponsorship/contribution for the group please PM me and I'll forward your details to the relevant people.

 

We've already come up with a wealth of fund-raising ideas that should raise some funds and they'll be out with buckets at a game in the near future.

Edited September 24, 2010 by oafcprozac

[oafcprozac]

Over the years Blue Crew has risen from a rag, tag and bobtail group of kiddies cheer leading at BP, to the successful Dance/Cheerleading group it has become today. Last year the group represented Oldham Athletic in the national finals in Stoke and won, giving the club some much needed positive coverage in a season of real doom and gloom. The girls provide pre-match and half-time entertainment at most home games and train hard twice a week, despite the club's financial input being none-existent.

 

Both my daughter and my wife are involved with Blue Crew and last night it was announced that The FA in conjunction with the local NHS Trust have vastly reduced their funding to community projects this year, meaning that the very future of (Get Active) Community projects like Blue Crew are at risk. (All part of Camerclegg cuts) The club have quickly announced to the group that no money will be available to fund the group from the club (we're not talking huge amounts), in fact the club won't even pay for a coach/transport for the girls to compete in the national finals again in November - Despite the girls actually representing Oldham Athletic!

 

After a difficult start, Blue Crew has become an Oldham Athletic success story that many girls from the Chadderton are proud to be part of, it'd be a travesty if all this hard work had to be scaled back or even disbanded.

 

If anyone on here can provide any sort of sponsorship/contribution for the group please PM me and I'll forward your details to the relevant people.

 

We've already come up with a wealth of fund-raising ideas that should raise some funds and they'll be out with buckets at a game in the near future.

 

Bump

 

Already had one offer of support - cheers mate!

 

Come on guys and gals, these are our kids, wives, girlfiriends, sisters etc... that give their time up to voluntarily represent the club. Blue Crew are completely none profit making. If you can help please do so!

 

There's likely to be a fair few fund-raising events in the future so keep yer eyes peeled!

[Oldham Community Trust]

I have not been on for a while and would like to just to make clear the current position and clear up some points within the message that through nobodies fault dont tell the full story.

 

Last night it was announced that The FA in conjunction with the local NHS Trust have vastly reduced their funding to community projects this year, meaning that the very future of (Get Active) Community projects like Blue Crew are at risk.

 

It is not the FA or the NHS trust. There are cuts across the board, not just on community activities, and we have to look at providing value for money

 

The club have quickly announced to the group that no money will be available to fund the group from the club (we're not talking huge amounts), in fact the club won't even pay for a coach/transport for the girls to compete in the national finals again in November - Despite the girls actually representing Oldham Athletic!

 

This is nothingg whatsoever to do with the club. The fact is that the decision to pull funding for the coaches came from the Community Trust as Blue Crew is well established and the Trust cannot afford to continue to pay coaches for an activity which generates no income for us. Essentially we have provided free coaching and equipment for at least 12 months to support the growth and development of Blue Crew and this was not an easy decision to make. This is not about making profits merely covering costs.

 

The club (or Trust) did not refuse to pay for a coach. An offer was made by Blue Crew to raise the funds (I suggested a bucket collection) and we would subsidise any shortfall.

 

We've already come up with a wealth of fund-raising ideas that should raise some funds and they'll be out with buckets at a game in the near future.

 

I have made it clear to Blue Crew that the Community Trust will support where we can but as we see funding drying up and shortcomings in terms of monies available to us we have to make the very most of what is available to us

 

If anyone requires any further information or clarification on any of the ppoints above please feel free to e mail me colin.moore@oldhamathleticct.org