Ilkley Rugby Club learned this week that their fund raising efforts had been recognised by Twickenham. They have won the prestigious RFU Presidents’ XV award for Fundraising.

The initiative and imagination, particularly within the Junior section of the club has been remarkable a the club step up their efforts to fund the proposed new development at Stacks Field.

It earns them a £500 prize and a contribution to a presentation event.

Watch this space for details.

Ilkley Parish Council pledge £40k.

Ilkley Parish Council today pledged £40k to the new development fund - subject to approval from a full council meeting.

This is great news for the project.

Meantime the club awaits further information from their Lottery bid.

These are a few headlines covering the wonderful fund raising efforts either completed or planned.

• Over £400k out of the £800k target has already been donated/pledged.
• Money is coming in from Club members, Corporate Sponsorship and Advertising Revenue from the "Development" brochure.
• Donations in kind/products by Club members total over £30k.This amount is NOT included in the £400k money already donated/pledged.
• Minis & Juniors Fund raising activities have already kicked off and again these superb efforts are NOT included in the money already donated/pledged.
• The under 7's have sold approx £2k of Whitakers’ over-run chocolates and their coach John Redding braved a New Year's Day Sponsored plunge in White Wells.
• The under 16's took £300 at their Xmas Fayre and collected £633 bag packing at Marks & Spencer in Guiseley in just 4 hours. They hope to repeat the bag packing exercise on the opening day at the new M & S store in Ilkley.
• The Ilkley Rugby Club 2008 calendars have been sold mainly by the Minis & Juniors. Demand has been good. The value of calendars sold is a magnificent £2,000. Well done everybody...and thanks again for the pics and the printing. There’s still a few left, so if you want a calendar, you know where to go!
• Under 14's braved the White Wells plunge and aim to raise nearly £1,500 from this event. Thanks to everyone who went in!. There are some photos.
• Under 16's hosted a Quiz evening at the Club on 25^th January 2008. It was an outstanding success and raised nearly £1000. Great stuff TG et al.
• Under 11's activities include a "Boys Sporting Dinner" which was held on 1^st February 2008. The parents cooked the meal and served the lads. Leeds Tyke player Scott Armstrong ( via John Bentley ) gave a motivational talk at the beginning of the evening. Sumptuous food was followed by entertainment, and the evening ended with a grand raffle. Another fantastically successful event raised £1,000.
• Under 17's parents and friends helped at the Ilkley Beer Festival and raised £1k on the day. They have a few more events planned.
• Under 7's and 8's held a race night and raised lots of dosh.
• Under 13's did a Tesco bag pack on Saturday 22nd March and raised a magnificent near £900!!.

Future Minis’ & Juniors’ fund raising activities include:

• Under 7's &  8's will host a treasure hunt and a sponsored "passing" morning. They are orgainising a sponsored walk to Twickenham (?)
• Under 9's are Sponsoring a clock with a £600 first prize on offer. This should raise a net £3k. Also cases of fine wine are being sold.
• Under 10's & Under 12's coaches are organising a Club Ball with the promise of raising a "shed load of money".
• All the Mini/Junior sides are committed to raise a MINIMUM of £2k per age group.

• The senior players are "rowing down the Wharfe" on 30th/31st May.The Wharfe will flow (along with some amber nectar) through the clubroom in the form of 4 rowing machines. Sponsorship and encouragement on the night welcome! 
• Marcus Mountcastle, 3rd XV skipper, is showing the way by doing a parachute jump in May. He'll demand a huge ransom and a flight to Kusukistanopotamia and jump out with his booty. Good luck Marcus and well done!!

For details of all these events look at the club notice board, the message board on the website or contact the age group team manager.

The Club remains confident that the target can be reached.

Members are really getting involved with the challenge of raising the money.  

It is vital to keep the momentum in full forward drive.

With this kind of support from the whole club we are confident the project will become reality.

Ilkley Juniors are first to take up the Challenge

In pursuit of funding for the new Development at Stacks Field Ilkley Junior Rugby coaches and team managers, together with their young players, have taken up the challenge of the Club Chairman by committing to raise a minimum £2,000 per age group.

Richard Scargill said “I am gratified that the Junior Section has met the Challenge with such enthusiasm. It is the youngsters of today who will be the first generation to enjoy the new facilities so it is appropriate that they lead the way. I am impressed with the innovative thinking that has gone into the fund raising process and I would like to thank everyone involved for their determination to make this project a reality.

Here are the projects devised by each age group.

Under 7’s

An enterprising parent has negotiated with the Club’s main sponsor Whitakers Chocolates' the donation of their output of mishapes. Thanks to Whitakers for their generosity.

Each squad member will “sell” the £1 bags of chocolates to family members and friends. Incredibly this will raise nearly £2,000 on its own.

The parents will organise a Race Night at the club – always good fun.

Another parent has offered to print a club team calendar with 12 individual team photographs from under 7’s to under 17’s and the 1st XV.

The under 7’s coach has agreed to “take a sponsored plunge” in Ilkley’s fearsomely cold White Wells spring on Boxing Day.

Under 8’s

They will host a separate Race Night and hope to raise over £1,000.

They are also planning a sponsored walk.

Under 9’s

The hardy and super fit parents are planning a sponsored Canoeing and Running event.

One parent, who runs a top Ilkley Hotel, will lean on his suppliers for support.

Under 10’s and under 12’s

They will pool resources to organise the ever popular Spring Ball in May next year. This has always been a successful event whenever it has been held and is guaranteed the support of the whole club, but it will be great to see it dominated by Junior parents and Senior players.

Under 11’s

They are “on the case” and will come up with an innovative event/effort soon.

Under 13’s

On 2^nd February next year they will hold a Disco and Fun Night at Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club.

The boys will do time packing bags at Booths supermarket. Booths have supported the club well over the years.

Under 14’s

Are looking at a 24 hour static cycle race and other fitness related events.

Under 16’s and 17’s

Will be getting their fund raising hats on over the next weeks and will devise some innovative ways of making their contribution.

Meantime the senior players and the committee are working on their fund raising ideas.

Mr Chairman is doing a sponsored 127.60 mile bike ride from Liverpool to Leeds along the canal and already has a big purse promised at the end of it.

Other events up and coming are a Sportsmens’ Dinner and Auction of Promises and, no doubt, many more.

Thank you to everyone who will participate and support these events.

September 2007

Ilkley RFC Development Project

The Project team

The Ilkley Rugby Development Project Committee comprises the following club members:

David Adam, Ken Bernard, Tom Gillon, John Hope, David Jones, Iain McKenzie

Tony Rising, Richard Scargill.  

Responsibilities:

• David Adam: Treasurer and guardian of all funds in a completely separate bank account, Liaison with Revenue re VAT, production of a Business Plan.
• Ken Bernard: Liaison with RFU Funding dept., Section 106 monies, Consultation with local organisations, Dialogue with architect and cost consultants.
• Tom Gillon: Junior Section liaison and Funding Activity Coordinator.
• John Hope: Publicity and Press, maintaining web-site details, general PR.
• David Jones: Specific Fund Raising activities.
• Iain

Related Links:
Club Development Plan