Clubs & Societies
are open from 3:30pm to 10:00pm. Almost one-third of our members are female, double the proportion from just 12 months ago. Since taking over the Chair from Patrick Jones (52-61) two years ago I have launched an ambitious programme to refurbish the Comber Grove premises, in part to facilitate lettings and reduce dependence on the shrinking endowment from the Mission (DCM Hollington Trust) and the uncertainty of grants from Southwark. We were successful in obtaining a grant from Sport England for some £47,000 to provide a women’s changing room and shower, improve the boys’ changing room, renew the boxing and gym equipment, improve the heating and plumbing, insulate the sports hall ceiling and walls, and to install a much needed disabled toilet. Unfortunately, the grant is insufficient to do all the work needed and we are seeking further funding of around £100,000. Since re-establishing close ties with the College we have received donations from collections by the boys and Friends of Dulwich College, in addition to outside donations from the Camberwell Society and Dulwich Runners. We have also received grants from the Wates Foundation and the Newcomen Collett Trust, to help us fund staffing and computers. Thanks are due to SJ, our enthusiastic General Manager, and the rest of our dedicated staff, sessional workers and volunteers. We are also grateful for the unfailing support of our directors. We urgently need volunteers for the board – not necessarily Old Alleynians – to help us drive forward our plans for the future. Keep up-to- date by looking at the Hollington Club website, www. hollingtonyouthcentre.org.uk, which has been set up recently with the help of a generous donor. DCM Hollington Trust There are two charitable bodies involved with the Hollington Club. DCM Hollington Trust is the owner of the Club premises and holds the endowment with which to provide funding for the Club, which was founded at the end of the 19th century as the College Mission. The Club is a separate company that was set up principally to facilitate grant applications from outside bodies. All money donated to the Trust goes to benefit the Club. Links with the College The Trust is run by a committee of OAs together with most valued support from the Master and the Chaplain. There has been renewed interest from the College and boys have contributed significantly. We are most pleased that the Club has once again become one of the beneficiaries of the College’s charitable giving. Links with the College have also provided ready practical help when needed. We are pursuing stronger Chris Vernon (55-62) Chairman
links by arranging visits by boys at the College. OAs can help too. Many of the committee have been in post for a very long time and we need younger members; in particular those with an accountancy background and a surveyor or architect would be particularly welcomed. But any OA a little younger would be valued! The Nature of the Trust The Trust owns the Club premises in Camberwell as well as a portfolio of investments built up from the College Mission collections and from OA donations and legacies. This has enabled the Trust to continue to pay regular grants to the Club of some £72,000 per annum out of dividend income, donations and from the sale of some of our investments. Peter Lyon (52-60) now manages our fund. The endowment has, however, been shrinking over recent years since the income generated has had to be supplemented with regular injections of capital and there is a real concern that the Trust will cease to be able to continue making grants at this level for much longer. Grants have continued despite our actual annual income from all sources falling substantially short of the payments made to the Club, which in the past seven years have amounted to some £490,000. The shortfall in itself emphasises the continuing need for further donations. As mentioned above it has become increasingly urgent to repair and update the premises, in part so that there can be more lettings to provide a more secure level of income. Renewed lettings to the Amateur Boxing Association and Southside Young Leaders Academy and use by the local primary school have been negotiated by the Club and there is scope for much more once the works envisaged have been carried out. The Trust has agreed an initial £35,000 towards these works and an application has also been made to the Alleyn Club to help now that links with the College have been strengthened. Thanks In addition to those thanked by Chris Vernon above, I should also like to express gratitude to our regular OA subscribers and those who donate at dinners and other OA events and on whose subscriptions we recover Gift Aid.
Jeremy Baker (53-60) Chairman
Old Alleynian Endowment Fund
Chairman: Ivor Warburton (57-65) Hon Secretary: Marcus Graham (90-98) Email: marcus_graham @ hotmail.com
Aims Established in 1932, the Fund provides financial assistance to OAs and pupils at the College for their education or for training for an occupation or
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