PLANS for the refurbishment of the old pavilions site at Stanhope Park, Holsworthy have been finalised — and local clubs are now setting up a Crowdfunding page to help raise extra funds.

The cricket and youth football clubs in Holsworthy are teaming up to create a Crowdfunding initiative. They will utilise social media to help spread the word and hope to raise a minimum of £5,000 to go towards the project.

Cllr Lyndon Piper, chairman of the town council’s parks committee, said: “The Crowdfunder will hopefully raise much needed top-up money, raise awareness and support for the project in the local and wider community and importantly show the main funders how much local support there is for the scheme.

“The Crowdfunder Initiative will provide a mechanism for local people and businesses to show their support for the project. The Crowdfunder initiative went ‘live’ last Sunday and will stay open for four weeks.

“It is hoped that if they raise and exceed their minimum target it will help go towards demonstrating to funders the support the project is receiving from the public. The more the Crowdfunding raises the less needed from funders, increasing the chance of success.”

Applications for funding are also being prepared by the town council to be submitted to the Football Foundation, Sport England and ECB — they have also commissioned funding specialists Malcolm and Mary Harris of Leisure Lincs to assist in the process. Chris French of the Devon Football Association is also assisting the town council with the project.

Cllr Piper added: “The council has also acknowledged the lack of provision for girls and women’s sports in the town and the project sports development plans will look at addressing this deficiency.

“The youth football and cricket club youth section are working on initiatives to increase girls’ participation within their respective groups and plans for ladies’ team sports in the town — such as football, netball and cricket — are also gatherng pace.

“Currently, plans are for Holsworthy Youth Football Club and Holsworthy Cricket Club to be main stakeholders in the project with the facilities being made available for other groups, including Holsworthy Football Club, Holsworthy Peloton and Walk and Talk Groups among others.”

The facility, which will use the original pavilion building as its centerpiece, will offer these groups a community hall with adjoining kitchen facilities available for hire by the general public.

“The hope is that thanks to its positioning in the park it will become a great venue for children’s birthday parties, christenings and family events.”

To encourage the public to make contributions the two clubs have come up with a rewards scheme to give a little more incentive.

All contributors will be included within a book of sponsors to be retained within the pavilion for prosperity.

In addition, donating £5 will receive a thank you on social media.

Donating £25 will result in a ticket to an invitation-only party for sponsors and contributors to be held in the newly renovated pavilion. This will be a celebratory ‘must be seen at event’ to include a buffet dinner and refreshments.

Donating £100 secures an invitation as above as well as a name and family name on a sponsors’ board to be permanently displayed within the community hall.

Donating £250 gets an invitation as above, plus a company, family and individual name on the corporate sponsors’ board to be permanently displayed within the community hall.

The facility will benefit people of all ages and will provide a focal point for the community within Stanhope Park.

Holsworthy mayor Cllr John Allen has started off the crowdfund with a personal donation of £250.

Crowdfunding contributions can be made at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-holsworthy-sports-pavilion-project.

There will be links on Facebook and Twitter in the coming month. Donations can also be dropped in at Southbourne Catering on Fore Street, Holsworthy, and will still benefit from the rewards.