tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post8766622826108349545..comments2023-10-30T00:51:36.361-11:00Comments on Diary of a Desperate Exmoor Woman: Who cares if the Exmoor Gym shuts?Exmoorjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-43348173210832294872012-04-29T20:24:18.415-11:002012-04-29T20:24:18.415-11:00Hopefully your council members are aware how much ...Hopefully your council members are aware how much public sector money is around (particularly this year)for sporting activities, especially where these involve kids/teens. There are also specific funds for rural areas... I'm out of touch with the regeneration field, so can't recall who your local development organisation might be, but the council ought to have that info along with access to the relevant funding databases.<br /><br />There have been huge cuts in public sector spending this year but the one area which has suffered least is sport (primarily because of the Olympics).<br /><br />The BIG Lottery is investing heavily in these things just now, also Sport England - both of these organisations are worth checking out for funding and support.<br /><br />Good luck!Sandiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548726163260606366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-58526222885652652852012-04-29T02:11:50.577-11:002012-04-29T02:11:50.577-11:00Hi Shelia. Thanks for reading and commenting. Sa...Hi Shelia. Thanks for reading and commenting. Sadly it's not that simple. The gym was never properly marketed or advertised - most people didn't even know it was there. We persistently asked 1610 to market it properly to encourage more members but they ignored requests. They also refused to consider incentive schemes to attract more members. We are a small rural community in a deprived area - money is tight. Families couldn't afford to buy separate memberships - particularly when children or teens would only be able to use the facility during holidays. <br />I understand where you're coming from and agree that often people only realise what they're missing when it is threatened but in this case we really did try our darndest - just met with firmly closed ears.Exmoorjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-7457061215642361202012-04-28T07:52:49.750-11:002012-04-28T07:52:49.750-11:00If all these people that are so 'outraged'...If all these people that are so 'outraged' actually got off their ass and joined the gym in the first place the company wouldn't have had to pull out! It's easy to be outraged after the decision has been made!Shelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-24235263318935533212012-04-26T04:00:37.236-11:002012-04-26T04:00:37.236-11:00@Fennie - we had thought of staging a run/row/cycl...@Fennie - we had thought of staging a run/row/cycle in... :) But we have a better idea now... we're taking over the church! <br /><br />@Kellie - thanks. We're doing it for ourselves - only way really. :) <br /><br />@Ashen - yup, we are looking into everything - MP and county council are very supportive with research too so hope,for their sake, 1610 have been totally above board in their dealings. :) If sharing your own story might help in any way, please do - happy to direct people to it. Small communities need to support one another against the fat cats.<br /><br />@Zoe - they're a UK charity and company. Originally funded by public money, now private. Is interesting set up really.<br /><br />@Frith - they say they will look into our viability and may open again in the autumn. In reality we all know that won't happen. We have offered to release them from the lease as they state economics are the reason but they would rather lock the place up and leave the equipment there to gather dust. Why? Search me. But yes, we will go ahead and start our own facility - we've got a venue and instructors and just finalising plans. Is insane situation but the community wants this facility so we will make sure it gets it. :) Huge thanks for your support.Exmoorjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-46053374845759941822012-04-26T03:42:36.439-11:002012-04-26T03:42:36.439-11:00I would love to hear how this continues. Surely th...I would love to hear how this continues. Surely there's a way to take it over as a co-op of some sort? Member-owned etc? They probably don't want to haul all the gear away and put it in storage somewhere else. You have a fight on your hands but you sound like a lot of fighters. Don't forget FaceBook - crowd-sourcing funds for stuff like this etc. Good luck. Love your blog, your attitude, and your little community.Frithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-81896067849128677842012-04-25T23:30:52.873-11:002012-04-25T23:30:52.873-11:00I wonder if the Charities Commission can help you ...I wonder if the Charities Commission can help you with this at all? Are they an American Charity?Zoëhttp://zoelynch.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-69459574040889748252012-04-25T22:23:08.389-11:002012-04-25T22:23:08.389-11:00Charities are sometimes formed to avoid paying tax...Charities are sometimes formed to avoid paying tax on asset sales or income. But they have obligations towards their mission statement and the community they're meant to serve. I bet you're already looking into irregularities. <br />I feel for your group, having my own woe story of a charity overruling the needs of a sizeable and long-standing community.Ashenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394940341184140915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-52038214740855519002012-04-25T12:10:18.343-11:002012-04-25T12:10:18.343-11:00That's too bad they're closing :( I hope y...That's too bad they're closing :( I hope you can get someone to do something about it. It's the small things that mean so much to communities!Kellie Kamrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128538194212450324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-44772018298048185762012-04-25T05:57:05.575-11:002012-04-25T05:57:05.575-11:00There is a short story here waiting to be written ...There is a short story here waiting to be written about a group of people who - by virtue of their addiction to physical activity - cannot organise a 'sit-in' but have to organise something else more active. Physically incapable of sitting still, they run and lift and press and squat in relays and refuse to budge, when the 1610 bailiffs come knocking. When the power is turned off someone brings in a generators (or maybe couple the treadmills to a dynamo) and invitations are sent out to all sorts of famous people to come and exercise in the Exmoor gym. Soon athletes are competing to see who can do the most bench presses in the least time and the organising committee will find they have to send to the Mint at Llantrisant (not far as the crow flies) for medals in gold (oh, all right then, yellow metal) and silver and bronze to reward their efforts. Headlines in the leeway-allowed popular prints will read 'Exmoor Stages Its Own Olympics' or perhaps 'Scullers from China and the USA Compete for Gold on Exmoor's Rowing Machines.' Meanwhile Private Eye will run all sorts of sixteen and tenpenny stories about the charity company and the jobsworths who run it. <br /><br />But better than writing a story - why don't you do it?Fenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377814681496294457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-84956409060103129322012-04-25T02:18:57.865-11:002012-04-25T02:18:57.865-11:00@Expat mum - yup, there is clearly a hidden agenda...@Expat mum - yup, there is clearly a hidden agenda. We have experts investigating on quite a few fronts. <br /><br />It's all about accountability and governance...a bigger story here actually than just one small gym. <br /><br />And yes, we will open our own. Already in negotiations on this. Obviously would make life easier if they would just hand over the premises and equipment but if not, so be it. And there is not room for two gyms in a place this size. :) <br />I think 1610 must relish the negative publicity! :DExmoorjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-18958394705880711142012-04-25T02:14:09.141-11:002012-04-25T02:14:09.141-11:00@Sally - the building is owned by a trust which is...@Sally - the building is owned by a trust which is also pretty appalled at what has happened. <br /><br />@Tee - Nah, they don't give a shit. But we'll win this - one way or another. Lot of people in this town who like a fight. And we've got one helluva team on this - next step will be getting in the TV cameras. :D <br /><br />Hey, I have a rubberband and a USB stick - shall we start a band? xxExmoorjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-32013645275244848542012-04-25T02:13:55.321-11:002012-04-25T02:13:55.321-11:00I was just going to say - if there's such a de...I was just going to say - if there's such a demand for a gym, surely someone will come along and open another one. 1610 must be mad to walk away from such demand, so there's obviously something else going on there.Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-49703361287657336712012-04-25T02:10:13.703-11:002012-04-25T02:10:13.703-11:00I think it right sucks what's happened here. I...I think it right sucks what's happened here. It clearly doesn't matter to the people running it. But the town is going to be affected. If I had money, I'd keep it open for you folks. Unfortunately, I have a rubber band and a paperclip, neither will help you. ♥Teehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18277378168473581160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-53256680341813830232012-04-25T01:32:17.532-11:002012-04-25T01:32:17.532-11:00Atta girl! Who owns the building?Atta girl! Who owns the building?Sally Shalamhttp://www.sallyshalamsbritain.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com