Fundraising Projects & Options at Poulton 

Completed Projects

2022 Onwards - Investment in Englands (£18k per annum) 

We employ a professional grounds team for the square at Englands with the aim of providing the best possible surfaces for our senior and junior teams to play on. This continues to be a significant cost burden on the accounts. Materials such as fertiliser, seed & loam are on top of this. 

2024 - Bar & Pavilion Renovation Phase 1 (£3k)

In 2024 we took the decision to use some cash reserves to begin a gradual refurbishment of the Pavilion. This included painting, a new floor, fridges and furniture. We also completed Phase 1 of our high speed internet installation, adding  Starlink to the club. 

2024 - Englands Poweroll 12 Roller (Cost £13.3k) 

Following agreement at the 2024 AGM, the club has ordered a new purpose built roller for Englands which should have a lifespan of 30 years being powered by far a far simpler engine than our prior rollers. It is being part financed by a five-year interest free loan and was named after our fantastic former groundsman Wayne Tinson. 

2024 - Englands Robot Mower (Cost £13k) 

The club purchased a robotic mower to look after our outfield. It reduces pressure on volunteers having to mow when both free time and weather permit. It is cheaper to run with far lower servicing costs versus traditional fuel mowers and cuts the grass to a better standard.

2025 - High Speed Internet installation Phase 2 (Cost £2.5k) 

The club installed WiFi throughout the pavilion and over the playing area for the use of all members while at the club. It also enables live scoring and will facilitate the future addition of a new scoreboard on the far side of the playing field from the pavilion. 

2025 - Covers Replaced (Cost £1k)

The club replaced the blue covers on our roll on frames... predictably it did not rain at all in the 2025 season however when it next does during a cricket season, we have covers to keep our wickets dry!

2025 - Rainwater Harvesting Phase 2 (Cost £1.3k) 

Following an incredible purchase by our Landlords, the Poulton Playing Field and Allotment Charity of a new pump and hoses, we have the infrastructure to move our usage of water for the ground off the mains. The next phase of this was the addition of a 6.000 litre storage tank to hold rainwater collected from the roof and this was fully funded by a grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board, approved by the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation. 

Future Projects

2026 - High Speed Internet installation Phase 3

When the trustees replace the fence we will dig in a length of internet cable ready to connect the pavilion up to a  hardwire connection. 

Year TBC- Bar Development

We need to both elongate the serving area of the bar and improve the cooling in our storage cupboard. 

Year TBC- New Scoreboard

We are tageting the purchase of an additional scoreboard which updates autmatically and will sit on the far side of the ground for spectators and players to see more clearly. Electricity cabling for this project will be added in 2026

Year TBC- Pavilion Development

Ideally we need an extension for the pavilion for female changing as well as addtional social space given the growth in our club. 

Why Do We Need To Fundraise - Doesn't Membership cover it? 

Basic operating costs for the the club are approximately  £35,000 per year so with a membership of 200 players, this means a per head cost of £175 no matter the age of the player.

We have never charged £175 to be a member of our club. Our Senior Mens membership is £100 with a £5 match fee per game while hard ball membership in 2023 was £60 for juniors & Senior Women and Soft Ball membership for Under 7s & 9s was £40. Our goal as a charity is to provide cricket at a club with fantastic facilities but at a rate that is manageable for members with the price of playing as low as possible for families, reducing cost as far as possible as a barrier for the sport.

2024 saw significant Capital expenditure requirements in terms of the purchase of a new roller and robot mower erroding our cash position meaning we now need to focus on building liquidity for future projects. 

So how can we plug the gap?

Not charging high amounts for membership and playing fees mean that we have always relied on other avenues of income to bridge the gap via a combination of Donations, Sponsorship, Events, Grants & Fundraising. These have delivered over time our new pavilion, new nets, sightscreens & covers. All funds "made" by the club through operations go towards re-investment. 

The goal of this page is to have a one-stop shop for all the methods that can be used to fundraise for the club. Some of these just mean nominating us as your selected charity for programmes at no additional cost to yourself while you go about your usual shopping routines to yield what might seem small individual amounts but when totalled up across the membership result in serious contributions. 

With the new lease agreed thanks to our supportive landlords, the cricket club will now benefit from all bar sales but has greater financial responsibility to maintain Englands and the Pavilion. This means that every, pint, bottle, glass, snack and burger is a mini fundraiser for the club and this needs to be factored in when considering the prices. 

We know that we can't place an expectation on every member to make up the difference above in donations instead however the Club Committee hopes that where possible, club members and parents of members can get involved in fundraising efforts and do what they can to help generate income.  

Donations to the Cricket Club make up the majority of our income. We are are a registered charity and as a result there are tax efficiencies for both businesses and individuals who make donations to us. Gift aid of 25% where applicable is claimed directly by us and makes a huge difference to club income. Where businesses make donations, we do not claim the gift aid and can provide a receipt for accounting purposes. To Discuss making a donation, please click here to contact the treasurer. 

Where individuals make a donation, we only claim gift aid when consent has recently been given (A gift aid consent form can be filled out underneath the logo to the right). We track donations closely ever year and so if any individuals would like a record of what they have donated to the club in either donations or membership of the charity for tax returns, then please contact the Treasurer. 

Quick buttons for donations are below. If you would rather make a bank transfer, the treasurer can facilitate this as well. 

This scheme contributed nearly £700 to club funds in 2023 & 2024 with just 12 members of the club signing up to it. 

Whenever you buy anything online from over 7,300 brands which include ones like eBay, John Lewis, Argos, ASOS, Booking.com, BT, Currys, SKY, Apple, Sainsbury's & Marks & Spencer, these brands will donate to the charity of your choice, on top of your purchase and at no cost to you, subject to that purchase being started via the easyfundraising app or website.  

To opt into this scheme you need to CLICK HERE and join the scheme for Free. Then, every time you shop, start the process in easyfundraising find the brand you are looking for and then click on it to start shopping. Alternatively apps are brilliant for tablets and phones and do this for you. After you check out, the brand will make a direct contribution to us at no additional cost to you as a % of your spend. There is also an app which can handle that process for you. It is a little extra work to remember to use it when purchasing online but the combined impact from our club members doing so is clear. 

In the 2023 Season we started a monthly club lottery. This costs £10 to enter and from the proceeds of the entries per month, 50% will go to club funds with the other 50% going to cash prizes. 

To put this in context, if all 100 initial squares were sold for the 2023 season, then the club will raise £6k in net proceeds with the other £6k going in cash prizes.

We have a dedicated page for this which can be found by clicking on the logo to the right or the one at the top of the page. On the page you will go to on this website, theres a form to fill out and select you payment method.