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| Salford Lads and Girls Club: What happens now it has been saved? | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Salford Lads and Girls Club has been saved from closure. But what happens now? | Salford Lads and Girls Club has been saved from closure. But what happens now? |
| Salford Lads and Girls Club has been saved from closure after its campaign to raise £250,000 attracted international attention and donations from local music legends like Morrissey and Graham Nash. | Salford Lads and Girls Club has been saved from closure after its campaign to raise £250,000 attracted international attention and donations from local music legends like Morrissey and Graham Nash. |
| The 120-year-old club, which became part of Manchester's music history after featuring on a Smiths album sleeve, attracts visitors from across the globe. | The 120-year-old club, which became part of Manchester's music history after featuring on a Smiths album sleeve, attracts visitors from across the globe. |
| When it became clear that the club might be lost forever, the community rallied to save it and quickly raised £250,000. | When it became clear that the club might be lost forever, the community rallied to save it and quickly raised £250,000. |
| But how did the club - which gave generations of lads and later girls the chance to take part in sport, art and music - get to the point where it might have had to shut its doors? And what will be done to make sure it survives into the future? | But how did the club - which gave generations of lads and later girls the chance to take part in sport, art and music - get to the point where it might have had to shut its doors? And what will be done to make sure it survives into the future? |
| What is the club's history? | What is the club's history? |
| Leslie Holmes has been involved in Salford Lads Club for 22 years | Leslie Holmes has been involved in Salford Lads Club for 22 years |
| What was then called the Salford Lads Club was established in 1903 as part of a "federation" of lads clubs in working class communities across the UK, project manager Leslie Holmes said. | What was then called the Salford Lads Club was established in 1903 as part of a "federation" of lads clubs in working class communities across the UK, project manager Leslie Holmes said. |
| Most of the clubs shut down between the two world wars, to the point where Mr Holmes said it was "probably the last working pre-1914 lads club in existence". | Most of the clubs shut down between the two world wars, to the point where Mr Holmes said it was "probably the last working pre-1914 lads club in existence". |
| "We've got the records of every boy since 1903," he said. | "We've got the records of every boy since 1903," he said. |
| "It's just unbelievable. It's unique in this country." | "It's just unbelievable. It's unique in this country." |
| The club started accepting girls, whose own club had been bombed during World War Two, in 1996. | The club started accepting girls, whose own club had been bombed during World War Two, in 1996. |
| The building was given a Grade-II listing in 2003. | The building was given a Grade-II listing in 2003. |
| Despite operating for more than 120 years, Mr Holmes said the club largely performed the same function of providing a community and opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters. | Despite operating for more than 120 years, Mr Holmes said the club largely performed the same function of providing a community and opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters. |
| "There's all sorts of things where our kids are still as deprived here as they were in 1903," he said. | "There's all sorts of things where our kids are still as deprived here as they were in 1903," he said. |
| "And I think that's the value of it in in in 2024." | "And I think that's the value of it in in in 2024." |
| Why was it at risk of closure? | Why was it at risk of closure? |
| Mr Holmes said when he first set foot inside 22 years ago, the Edwardian building was in disrepair. | Mr Holmes said when he first set foot inside 22 years ago, the Edwardian building was in disrepair. |
| He said the charity had been struggling to stay afloat since the 1970s, which saw the decline of industry around Salford docks. | He said the charity had been struggling to stay afloat since the 1970s, which saw the decline of industry around Salford docks. |
| "They gave money to this club, and so there were always reserves. There was always money to do things," Mr Holmes said. | "They gave money to this club, and so there were always reserves. There was always money to do things," Mr Holmes said. |
| The club is funded by donations and grants as well as tourism, and was hit hard by Brexit, which led to a decline in European visitors and international online merchandise shoppers. | The club is funded by donations and grants as well as tourism, and was hit hard by Brexit, which led to a decline in European visitors and international online merchandise shoppers. |
| Then the pandemic forced the club to close for around 18 months, and it was not eligible for some grants. | Then the pandemic forced the club to close for around 18 months, and it was not eligible for some grants. |
| The club attracts international visitors because of its place in Manchester's music history | The club attracts international visitors because of its place in Manchester's music history |
| It also became more expensive to maintain and heat the building during the cost of living crisis, and the club began running a monthly deficit. | It also became more expensive to maintain and heat the building during the cost of living crisis, and the club began running a monthly deficit. |
| It had eaten up its reserves before launching its desperate appeal in October. | It had eaten up its reserves before launching its desperate appeal in October. |
| Mr Holmes said: "It's been a gradual decline." | Mr Holmes said: "It's been a gradual decline." |
| The club reached its £250,000 fundraising target this week thanks to a £30,000 donation from energy firm Cadent. | The club reached its £250,000 fundraising target this week thanks to a £30,000 donation from energy firm Cadent. |
| Where will the money go? | Where will the money go? |
| Mr Holmes said the £250,000 would help it stay afloat in the short and long-term future. | Mr Holmes said the £250,000 would help it stay afloat in the short and long-term future. |
| He said he was overwhelmed by the success of the campaign, with funding coming from a number of high-profile donors and many people from the community and across the world. | He said he was overwhelmed by the success of the campaign, with funding coming from a number of high-profile donors and many people from the community and across the world. |
| He said: "Local people have knocked on my door to give me cash donations, people have come up to me in Sainsbury’s to ask about the appeal." | He said: "Local people have knocked on my door to give me cash donations, people have come up to me in Sainsbury’s to ask about the appeal." |
| About £108,000 of the £250,000 would go towards covering monthly losses for another six months, £55,000 towards new staff for six months, and £98,000 towards replenishing reserves for three months. | About £108,000 of the £250,000 would go towards covering monthly losses for another six months, £55,000 towards new staff for six months, and £98,000 towards replenishing reserves for three months. |
| The club forecasts spending £394,000 in the coming year, having brought in about £160,000 last year. | The club forecasts spending £394,000 in the coming year, having brought in about £160,000 last year. |
| The club has records of every member since 1903 | The club has records of every member since 1903 |
| Mr Holmes said the cash would also help the club establish a "legacy fund" and go towards hiring staff to develop a more sustainable funding model. | Mr Holmes said the cash would also help the club establish a "legacy fund" and go towards hiring staff to develop a more sustainable funding model. |
| "It's been a voluntary club for as long as I can remember, but it's not a model that you can sustain things with in this day and age," he said. | "It's been a voluntary club for as long as I can remember, but it's not a model that you can sustain things with in this day and age," he said. |
| He said the fundraising campaign had also attracted offers for longer-term funding. | He said the fundraising campaign had also attracted offers for longer-term funding. |
| "We didn't know how to connect with these people and they've suddenly got in touch saying 'We're really keen to support you and we might offer you two or three-year funding'." | "We didn't know how to connect with these people and they've suddenly got in touch saying 'We're really keen to support you and we might offer you two or three-year funding'." |
| The financial sustainability of charity organisations is a problem that is far from unique to Salford Lads and Girls Club, with Liverpool baby hospital Zoe's Place also having said recently that it faced the threat of closure. | The financial sustainability of charity organisations is a problem that is far from unique to Salford Lads and Girls Club, with Liverpool baby hospital Zoe's Place also having said recently that it faced the threat of closure. |
| Mr Holmes said governments and councils had to do more to support charitable organisations in their communities, and prioritise them over new projects. | Mr Holmes said governments and councils had to do more to support charitable organisations in their communities, and prioritise them over new projects. |
| He said: "It's not small-minded, it's about valuing communities like this." | He said: "It's not small-minded, it's about valuing communities like this." |
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