In response to the ongoing Covid 19 crisis and its detrimental impact on recreational sport, the Club has recently issued a funding appeal to all its Members and Friends.
The full text is copied below.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mhv

Greetings to All Members and Friends of Mill Hill Village Football Club and Mill Hill Village Cricket Club,

We’d like to tell you a bit about what the Club has been up to recently, how the ongoing pandemic crisis has affected us and to ask for your support in helping ‘the Village’ to navigate through this crisis.

How has MHVSC been affected by lockdown?
The lockdown and its implications on delivery of sporting activities has dealt a significant blow to the Club’s finances. Approximately 75% of the Club’s annual revenues are generated between mid-April and August when the Cricket season and its various attendant regular and extraordinary fundraising events all take place. Junior Cricket membership fees, Adult Cricket membership fees, Pitch Hire income, Bar income, Events income have all fallen to practically zero. Our costs have not fallen by anything like as much, so we will be running at a significant loss this year, as you might expect.

However, we acted swiftly and decisively to try to minimise the running costs of a Club which is effectively in hibernation. Among numerous other things, we have:-
• reduced ground maintenance to the minimum recommended by the governing bodies (ECB & FA).
• ceased or reduced utilities wherever possible including stopping broadband, ceasing refuse collections, renegotiating with Suppliers etc
• reached agreement with our kit suppliers to defer delivery and payment on clothing orders already manufactured
• ceased Clubhouse cleaning altogether
• sold off residual bar stock to members

Alongside these numerous cost saving measures, we have also availed ourselves of, and applied for, every possible government and funding body grants that we may be eligible for. The success of these cost saving and revenue generating measures, means that we can feel relatively confident about the Club surviving in the short term, even in a scenario where there is no cricket season whatsoever. It will however, exhaust the Club’s reserves, leave us vulnerable to future risks and mean that we are starting from square one, in terms of building up finances for future Club improvements and development. Having secured a new long term lease on the Clubhouse and grounds at the end of 2019, it had been hoped that the 2020 season would be the start of a new and exciting journey for the Club. Let’s just say that it has got off to a slightly bumpy start.

At the same we have been far from idle in terms of trying to improve the Club. As soon as Government guidance permitted it, we have been working as individuals, or in small, socially distanced work parties, on activities to improve the indoor and outdoor environment of the Club. The Roof has been re-felted, so our rain leaks should be a thing of the past. Exposed pipes have been back-filled, a new fence has been erected, substantial path edging and car park reclamation has been undertaken. Improvements have been made to the Changing rooms. Many other activities are also either underway or planned. All of this has been done with the goodwill and endeavour of Club members. If you are in the vicinity of the Club, feel free to go and have a look around. The Club has never looked better. If you are looking for some outdoor activity, to exercise, or just as an excuse to get out of the house, let me know and we will happily get you involved in our ongoing improvement activities.

How can you help?
In the absence of Sport related, bar and social event income, the Club is working steadfastly and determinedly to manage and assure our financial health and solvency through the coming weeks and months, so that we emerge securely on the other side of this crisis. With this in mind, we would be immensely grateful if you would consider making a donation to Mill Hill Village Sports Club funds. Any contribution, however large or small, will help the club to keep its financial head above water and enable us to maintain the ground and other assets throughout the summer, so that they are in good condition, if and when we are able to resume cricket and social activities on the other side of this pandemic. We understand that many people are in difficult financial circumstances right now, so please do not feel under any obligation to donate anything more than you can afford.

Donations can be made via the Just Giving platform and the link to our campaign page is as follows:-
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mhv

If you prefer to donate directly into the Club Bank Account. You can do so using the following details: -
Mill Hill Village Sports Club
Sort Code : 400507
A/C No : 91483560

If you donate directly, please also consider filling out a CASC Gift Aid form and sending it back to:- millhillvillagesportsclub@yahoo.co.uk
This will enable the Club to apply for gift aid, boosting your donation by 25p for every £1 you donate.

Looking ahead
We are constantly monitoring the latest advice from the Government and the Sporting bodies with which we are affiliated, regarding the possible resumption of sporting activities. One or two tentative steps are already being taken.
We have been around since 1868 and with your help, we hope to be around for a good while longer yet. Stay safe and fingers crossed we will have Sporting and Social activities back at our beloved Club very soon!
Best wishes to you and all your families, from all at Mill Hill Village.

The ‘Village’ Committee