The club is struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic
CCYC gymnastics has won a vote by local people to be put forward for a chance to win up to £5,000 in prize money.
The club received the most votes out of 14 local charities, giving them the chance to receive up to £5,000 of funding from Making A Difference Locally (MADL).
“We’re all thrilled and so chuffed,” said Gretchen Makinson, a member of the club’s fundraising committee. “There were so many amazing charities [with] really deserving causes”.
She said that any funding received would be used to keep the club running as, despite turning 101 this year, the club remains in an unsteady situation financially following the pandemic.
“Our biggest income is from mother and toddler classes [and] the café” she said, both of which were “completely wiped out” by Covid-19.
The club suffered a difficult financial period even before the pandemic hit. “We were just starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel and then Covid [happened]” she said.
Over the summer the club started a ‘101 fundraising challenge’ to cover their costs, with one 11 year old cycling 101km in one go, while a seven-year-old stood on her hands for a total of 101 minutes during June.
Ms Makinson said that they feel lucky for this opportunity to get funding from MADL – a charity set up by supermarket chain Nisa – as the club still has to operate classes at much lower capacity. They are also ineligible for the government’s rates rebate.
When asked why the giveaway has launched now, MADL charity assistant Helen Walker said that it was “just something a little bit different following Covid”.
Nisa Locals nationwide each nominate a local charity to receive funding as part of the award scheme.
Nisa Local Splott has decided to give a further £100 to each of the top 5 charities voted for. The other four charities are Anna’s Rescue Centre, Oasis, St Albans RFC and Green Squirrel.
When asked why she thought they received the top number of votes locally, Ms Makinson said that the club’s Facebook page helped. “We’ve built a good presence on social media [and people] just shared and shared and shared”.
She added the club has received great support, especially from parents, and that any donations to the club would be greatly appreciated and can be made via PayPal, by inserting info@cardiffcentralyouthclub.co.uk as the recipient.
