Sponsored by - S Rodgers, J Goodwin, B Millburn, PC Lettings, NSC, S Leonard, Give ‘em Beans, NSC & Surrey Barrovian

[Holkerbird]

You are ok whitty. I got a text after my very detailed post the other week reprimanding me for not thanking Bob In. pity there isn't a two finger emoji. Hahahaha
Yes 7 volunteers today.

[spirit of 1990]

Pretty much all covered there by one half of our light bulb changing department!

Just like to add our thanks to the two gentlemen who have donated some very useful tools this week, it really is a massive help when we don’t have to spend any of our kitty on tooling, equipment or materials. On that subject, thanks to Mark Hetherington who on behalf of a relative of his, donated £100 to our kitty today. We could have all the volunteers in the world but without cash or tooling there’s not much that could be done at the ground.

If anyone has a large (plying/lump) hammer they no longer use and would like to donate to us, it’d be another item we wouldn’t have to spend funds on.

We’ll be adding three new bins to the two already in place in the main stand, it’d really help the club (and us) if they could be used, as at the moment we have to tie valuable time and people up on clearing all sorts of rubbish simply left at peoples feet. After adding three new bins in that area I don’t think realistically anymore could be placed around the ground, it just needs people to use them.

[spirit of 1990]

A visit to the ground in the morning for anyone interested. Anything from painting to litter picking to using the jack hammer on the old floodlight bases...something for everyone.

Breakfast buns very kindly supplied by The Bob In Cafe once again.

[whitty1969]

Thanks to everyone who turned out again today.
A bit of a plea to all our fans out there.
The funds we use to buy materials to complete the improvements have nearly run dry.
We have a dedicated group of volunteers but without money to buy materials there is not a lot we can do.
The funds have taken a hit these last few weeks on paint, cleaning, plumbing and electrical equipment.
If anyone would like to donate to help that would be superb. Please get in touch with Ian or myself if you would like to contribute.

[capman]

What materials do you need I may get you some if I can

[Holkerbird]

An urgent call out for a plumber who can sort out a badly leaking toilet within the crossbar. There were sheets laid on the floor to soak up the water which were absolutely sodden.
About 8 volunteers today undertaking various tasks some underneath the stand in the volunteers maintenance area and Spirit cleaning and painting the brick toilets on the popular side. Paul Hornby paying a visit with his little boy.
Exile and myself sent on a shopping mission to buy cleaning products, mops, brushes etc. We overstepped the budget Ian gave us by 2/3rds. He was not best pleased. i doubt he has ever shopped for said items.
Nice to see the Crossbar being used, this time for a Christening celebration. Beautifully set out with white table cloths and dressed chairs.
Once again thanks to Bob In Cafe for bacon buns and sausages. Much appreciated especially on a day like today when an outside door slammed by the wind and almost took my finger off. No one cared.
Still lots of work to carry out.

[Big E]

Put a list together and post in here and on fb
Well done folks

[whitty1969]

An urgent call out for a plumber who can sort out a badly leaking toilet within the crossbar. There were sheets laid on the floor to soak up the water which were absolutely sodden.
About 8 volunteers today undertaking various tasks some underneath the stand in the volunteers maintenance area and Spirit cleaning and painting the brick toilets on the popular side. Paul Hornby paying a visit with his little boy.
Exile and myself sent on a shopping mission to buy cleaning products, mops, brushes etc. We overstepped the budget Ian gave us by 2/3rds. He was not best pleased. i doubt he has ever shopped for said items.
Nice to see the Crossbar being used, this time for a Christening celebration. Beautifully set out with white table cloths and dressed chairs.
Once again thanks to Bob In Cafe for bacon buns and sausages. Much appreciated especially on a day like today when an outside door slammed by the wind and almost took my finger off. No one cared.
Still lots of work to carry out.

Its only a finger Elaine.....you have lots more....
I was carrying 3 sponsor boards and nearly took off in the wind. No one cared about me either.
Ian wouldn't of took off where he was. The paint on the floor was keeping him down.

[spirit of 1990]

What materials do you need I may get you some if I can

Put a list together and post in here and on fb
Well done folks

I suppose these two posts are asking the same question.

When we did this pre the takeover we had a very healthy pot of money to use, when Paul Casson bought the club he gave me a continuous pot which was always topped up whenever cash was spent. At the moment we are using the money that was originally donated to us just after Paul announced he was leaving. That money has been used on such things as the top foyer makeover which was sponsored by the NSC (and is now making the club money every home game) Some was used on upgrading the Legends and Chairman's corporate rooms, both have been praised by the club and people using them, so money well spent. We've also spent money on the X Bar toilets and numerous other smaller projects. We can give the time but they all need money to some degree.

We've also had some absolutely fantastic donations of tools off various people...electric drills, a Dewalt battery drill etc, electrical items off one gentleman that have literally saved us a small fortune, a wheelbarrow paid for by Steve Leonard (on top of the cash he gave to sponsor us)

We haven't run out of cash but week by week it is being eaten into but not added to - you can see the problem. So anything at all that supporters feel they could give us would be gratefully accepted - & not be wasted. One example of how we save the club money was mentioned today by Paul H, without giving figures away the club can now send back the porta-loos on the Steelworks End, move the ones we are renting off Steeles (at a much reduced cost) and this is all possible because we've spent time & money doing up the toilets by the pop side turnstiles. That and the top foyer are two examples of how we are freeing up cash for the club to pump back into itself with the ultimate aim of becoming self sufficient.

So back to the two posts above. We need -

Cement and sand.
Gravel.
Bins (wheelie or the old black or grey bins) A gentleman dropped two off for us today which again save us or the club buying them.
A sledgehammer.
Electrical items (I can give these on request)
Paint, mainly masonry. It'd be great if supporters could buy a tin of white or blue masonry and just drop it off at the club for us. Wards are where we normally go.
As usual, any tools that you no longer use...screws, nails, hammers, spades, paint brushes...anything, we'll find a use for it.
Wood, so longs as it's in a decent state we can use it, what we don't use now we can store.
Corrugated sheeting.

I'm sure there's more but that's off the top of my head.

Exile and myself sent on a shopping mission to buy cleaning products, mops, brushes etc. We overstepped the budget Ian gave us by 2/3rds.

Yes, it was a shock.....you told me you were going to Poundstretcher not Harrods. Anyway, PH has told me they will reimburse us as that's something that shouldn't really be coming out of a maintenance pot.

Everything that is donated whether that's tools, materials, cash or simply volunteering your time, will all be put to good use. Imagine if 100 supporters gave just a fiver...the amount of jobs we could do with that amount of money could end up making the club a huge saving in the long term.

Sorry that has been such a long post but that's how it is - without donations of materials, peoples time or more importantly - cash, everything will grind to a halt.

[whitty1969]

Great write up that.
That's basically how it is.
We have the skills but not the finance.
We have lots of ideas and improvements we want to make but we are running out of funds to carry them out.

[boyliegladbach]

I'm reluctant to donate cash until I hear what the long term plans of the new owners are.

[capman]

How much sand and cement do you need

[Holkerbird]

I'm reluctant to donate cash until I hear what the long term plans of the new owners are.

That's ok Al. It isn't compulsory.

[Holkerbird]

Just a note on the paint situation. If buying blue paint Wards do a special mix as Barrow Blue so it is uniform.

[Big E]

How about a bucket/jar on the bar for change etc.
Get a campaign going on fb - more people will see it that way - you never know who will contribute - and easier to share
Setting up a go fund me page - every little helps and perhaps exiles would contribute this way.