Update. 20:00 27th Nov. This went live at 14:00 today and has already raised £1,000 so now the target has been increased from £700 to £1,400 (approx. £2 per member). Thanks for all of your support.

Hi Davyhulme Park Golf Club members, people who have held functions at DPGC, people who are planning on holding functions at DPGC, people who know Warren and people who don’t know Warren .

Summary – this is to raise money for Warren Burns’ loss of earnings due to the pandemic. Warren isn’t employed by DPGC as he is self-employed and unfortunately, he isn’t entitled to the right level of support from the government due to falling through the cracks.

A petition for ‘exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to Covid-19’ received over 250,000 signatures in 24 hours. This petition was being signed so we could continue playing golf, but, we shouldn’t lose sight that not only couldn’t we play golf - there are people who may be financially worse off as a result of the closure.

Contact was first made with DPGC the day before we were all due to go into our second lockdown at the start of November to understand how members could possibly support the club and the people employed by the club due to the negative impact of the imminent lockdown. Support in this instance means financial support during/following the lockdown, without losing sight of a previous lockdown months earlier.

DPGC Directors and Captains Council had done all they possibly could, plus more, for their employee’s, thanks to their own decisions and thanks to available government support. Greens staff have continued to be employed throughout this latest lockdown on full hours and full pay. Office staff have been working reduced hours but the balance of hours are furloughed and the club is topping up so they receive 100% of their salary. Club pro is continuing to receive his retainer and is operating a click & collect/ordering service through the shop. Bar staff are all furloughed on 100% salary. Unfortunately, it is only Warren that is significantly worse off, even with the great gesture from the club to not charge him rent. No functions, no fundraising events, reduced passing trade etc. Locked down for the busiest periods which would normally carry through the months where income is low. July/August/September earnings were down 78% compared to the same period last year.

This page allows you to donate if you are able to or if you wish to do so. This will not only help Warren but people around Warren through this pandemic and through the festive period.

This isn’t the start of fundraising though as it turns out that Martyn (pro) raised £380 during the pro’s day a few weeks ago, which he did off his own back to support Warren. Great gesture.

We must thank Warren for allowing this to continue after consideration over some weeks and sharing with people close to him for their thoughts. We are sometimes too proud to say we would appreciate some support. Support can be a text, phone call, financial, visiting, delivering something, meeting etc.

Points to note:

• This donation opportunity will close on Monday 21st December

• Warren has a wife and 5, 10 & 19 year old children which makes this situation even more challenging

• Warren is continuing to offer a takeout service and is very appreciative of the support he has received so far and hopes it continues. He describes this service as an ‘honourable service’ to those who have supported over the years. Other golf club caterers are employed and therefore furloughed until atleast January which means they are still receiving a healthy income for them and their family without providing a service to the members. See emails from DPGC/Warren with regards to the takeout service.

• The new tier 3 limitations make matters even worse as December would normally take care of low income in January and February.

• If we can support what we value in life through the tough times, then there is a greater chance that it will still be there for us once we are through the tough times.

• We have all been affected by this pandemic in many different ways and it is at no fault of our own.

• Helping one person might not change the world but it could change the world for one person

Take care. Have a great Christmas and all the very best for 2021.

#somethingforsomeone