Hi all hope you are all safe and well and looking forward to getting back to normal when all this is all over.

As you will imagine this is a difficult time for the Vale as well, though we have put a significant number of procedures and plans in place to give us the best chance of coming out of this situation in a good position financially.

We have furloughed staff and contacted the vast majority of suppliers and organisations we use and agreed to freeze contracts and payments. We have managed to secure a £25k grant from the local authority and have a couple of other applications in for much smaller amounts. However, we could still be in a very difficult position if we are not allowed to open for the next few months, as we still have some outgoings we can’t ignore and as you would expect, we have very little current income.

To that end we’d appreciate, if you are in a position to help the club through this difficult time, could we ask you to consider signing up for the Vale covenant, which many of you already do support. This was set up a few years ago to pay off the loan for the changing rooms development and currently is running several hundred pounds a quarter short. If you feel you can help pls set up a monthly recurring payment of £10 on your internet banking to the following account

Friends of the Vale of Lune

Sc 015490

Acc No 64716511

Once you have done this or if you do not use internet banking or would like help setting this up or another method of payment please could you e mail me at paulbatty1@googlemail.com so I can update our records.

Nearer the time We can reopen we will need all hands-on deck to get going again. We have a number of fantastic volunteers and helpers who carry out so many tasks unseen around the club but we can always use more, we will have a volunteers drive as and when we are told we given the go ahead and would urge anyone, with even a small amount of time to give, to put your name forward. There will be no commitment to committees or regular meetings etc. As a club we rely on our members and volunteers and perhaps out of the current chaos there is an opportunity to pull together for the greater good of the Vale, so it doesn't matter how new to the club you are or if you are part of the fixtures and fittings, please let us know. Some of these jobs are important to ensure the best use of time, be it 30 minutes helping the Secretary put the match day program together, helping the treasurer check some figures, being willing to man the gate if necessary on match days, to arrange a social or fundraising event, help with the raffle again on match days, paint a barrier, help with covenants, help the membership secretaries compile lists, apply for a grant etc. There are so many of you out there with skills or experience that could be vital.

If you feel you may be able to help please email paulbatty1@googlemail.com I will be in contact with you as soon as we get back and fully organised.

We are intending to amalgamate the Officers AGM with the Financial AGM in July when hopefully normality is restored.

On the rugby side

Jack will be working with all the senior section stakeholders to plan for next season and will be Communicating the 20-21 season plans soon. The senior section will also be looking at how to hold the end of season awards for the 2019/20 season, ideally this would be the same time as the new rugby launch. From conversation were having so far it sounds like a very exciting season to come.

Teams across the club have been involved in various challenges, it's great to see our club spirit showing through these tough times. The hard work being put in now will show when the season starts and make pre-season all the more enjoyable. keep up the hard work

So again, stay safe everyone and let’s all get together soon. We are hoping to have a massive end of lockdown party as soon as we can organise after restrictions are lifted.

Regards and Best Wishes to all from the Vale of Lune Management Team.