Ashcombe Village Club raises over £10,000 for the Addington Fund
Addington Fund receiving fundraising cheque from Ashcombe Village Hall
The Ashcombe Village Club in Dawlish, Devon, has raised over £10,000 for the Addington Fund over the years of supporting the farming charity.
Built in 1938 by Brigadier and Lady Rayner, it is still run as a club by local volunteers as a not-for-profit rural community centre. The charity funds are generated through regular activities, as well as a private party venue to hire as a stunning wedding venue and more. It has its own fully licensed bar which is run by the locals, which naturally is kept busy during skittles every Tuesday night, as well as during other regular activity nights to keep the local community close nit, together and entertained.
The Ashcombe Village Hall has supported the Addington Fund over the last decade, hosting fundraising breakfasts, guided estate tours followed by cream tea afternoons, as well as putting on evening drinks and BBQ nights along with supporting the charity via their Ashcombe Village Fete and Country Show.
The Ashcombe Village Club's charitable contributions far exceed what would normally be expected from such a small village hall. It has around 150 members and a village population of about 60 people in rural South Devon.
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The Ashcombe Village Club members
Ralph Rayner, the Estate Owner said “I am proud to have chaired the Ashcombe Village Club’s Committee since 2012, and to see all that it does to bring people together. Once upon a time the village was quietly in decline, so to see our successful local economy and social club’s activities and fundraising events really does lift the spirit and keep us all incentivised to do more.
“We have supported the Addington Fund for many years now, as their charity remit stands close to our hearts living in such a rural area. As we know, farmers are the backbone of this country and without food security the nation could starve. Supporting agricultural charities like the Addington Fund is vital to continue helping farmers when times get tough. Addington helps new entrants into farming and supports farmers who want to retire from agriculture but can’t afford to do so by themselves. Their affordable housing scheme helps farming families within the rural community by renting property at an affordable rate. As we all know, housing has now become very expensive and for those who don’t own their own property, renting rural is almost impossible.
“Over the years we have organised many fundraising activities for this fantastic charity and I am pleased to say these events have raised over £10,000. It’s a phenomenal amount of money which we know has gone directly to farmers who ask for help from the Addington Fund.”
The latest annual fundraising breakfast which was held at the Ashcombe Village Club on Tuesday 14th March, raised over £1,800 and was kindly sponsored by UK Agricultural Finance Ltd.
