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CASH BLOW TO YOUTH EVENT

By Clare Wall - Friday, March 14, 2008
THE Island’s under-16 cricket festival is facing yet more financial hardship, just months after private sponsors stepped in to help the popular event.
The festival, which was won by the IW team for the first time last year, has been running for 15 years and has been supported with sponsorship from Wightlink and from the IW Council, which last year gave £2,000.
But this year the IW Council has decided to not to give a grant, meaning the six visiting teams for this year’s festival will see their subsidy drop by more than £300 each.
Last year the festival was put under threat after the cricketing charity The Lord’s Taverners, decided to implement a match-funding structure. Bill Harold, festival organiser, is still waiting to hear if £2,000 of sponsorship from solicitor Laurie Calloway and property developer Southern Households, will be match-funded.
Mr Harold said: “All the money we get helps to subsidise the teams. It is very disappointing the IW Council have pulled out, they say they do not have the money which I feel is a lame excuse.”
He said when the then vice-chairman of the IW Council, Cllr Arthur Taylor, presented prizes to the cricketers last year, he said funding would be available.
“To say the festival may not go ahead is an exaggeration but it will make it more difficult,” said Mr Harold. ”We had no idea the IW Council was going to change its mind.”
IW Council leader Cllr David Pugh, said: “The council has given grants totalling well over £10,000 to support the IW Youth Cricket Festival over the years. Organisers were made aware in 2007 that funding would not be available this year. We provide seed funding for many events across the Island but are not in a position to continue this level of funding forever.”
Cllr Pugh added the council was keen to see the festival take place and said it had recommended organisers apply for a grant through the Youth Opportunity Fund.