Update: 22nd April 2020

I am overwhelmed by the generosity shown by people in helping us to achieve the target of £10,000 and my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and supported the campaign to raise the funds.

When I set the target of £10,000 at the beginning of April it was on the premise that the lockdown would last only two or maybe three months. However, as you may know from statements made to the media by the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP, pubs and clubs will be the last to open in any relaxation of the lockdown restrictions.

This leads me to believe that it maybe more than three months before we are allowed to reopen and therefore, I appeal for donations to continue to be made to help save the Club from closure.

I have received further correspondence from Sir Mark Hendrick MP who has received a response from the government in which the government is not offering any advice; other than for businesses who pay business rates. Sir Mark has written to the Chief Executives at Preston City Council to request that they provide a grant to cover the costs as a special circumstance. He has also written to the Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council to see if they can recommend another local funding stream. He says he will go back to the Government to highlight the issues social clubs like St Gregory's is facing as there appears to be a clear loophole in their COVID-19 business schemes. He also pleased to see that the community has raised substantial funds and will continue to pursue further funding on our behalf. Thank you Sir Mark for your efforts to help St Gregory’s Club!

Meanwhile follow the government guidelines on staying home etc so we can be allowed to open as soon as possible. Keep healthy and stay safe.

Story

St Gregory’s Catholic Club and Social Centre, on Blackpool Road in Preston, Lancashire, provides hospitality to club members, the local community for celebratory events and being only 5 mins walk from Deepdale stadium is the local hostelry for both home and away football fans on match days. Many of our Club members are elderly and sadly widowed. So, the Club is a vital opportunity for social interaction for which many members living on their own is a welcome respite from loneliness and good for their mental health well-being.

Following the government’s announcement on Friday 20th March for all clubs and pubs to close; we complied and closed the club hoping it not be for too long and we may survive in the light of the government’s support package to small businesses.

We made application to Preston City Council for the small business grant of £10k and was informed that the Club was not eligible as we do not pay business rates. It is true that the Club does not pay business rates as the Club is an annex of the Church and therefore is exempt from paying business rates. This is true for most Catholic Social Clubs. Preston City Council will only provide the small business grant to those businesses in receipt of the small business rates relief (SBRR).

I wrote to the Chancellor, the Business Secretary and my local MP, Sir Mark Hendrick explaining the situation. I received a response from Sir Mark Hendrick on 7th April 2020, which stated that he had referred the issue to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and no response as yet from the Chancellor or the Business Secretary. We cannot afford to take out loans and very much doubt that we would qualify given we just broke even last year and only made a very small profit the year before. With no income and still have bills to pay, we need help now or we will have to permanently close at the end of this month after 47 years of providing hospitality.

I appeal to all our club members, customers and all football fans who have enjoyed the Club’s hospitality to make a donation and help save the Club from closure.

Many thanks

Alan Hamilton

Chairman of St Gregory’s Catholic Social Centre