I went to Stoke Mandeville today..

[sparky]

I've spoken to Bill Saunders and John Cooper about this in the past and there is a plan once John gets it all sorted to have a side shoot at the Nationals, and also i think we have just found our annual charity shoot!!!!!

Terry we will also get a bucket out at the booking-in areas at the shoots, starting this coming Sunday at Anston.

Pete

[Born Again]

Put me down for a days work. Ex spark and can bring generator, tools and welding gear.

[Terry D]

If there wasn't a swear-filter on here I'd tell you all how fantastic you are.

I'll be speaking to the people concerned in a few hours time, after which I'll let you all know. I'm fancying this BBS work party idea, though. Perhaps a scouting party will have to go in first to suss it out and sort out materials required, but I'm sure we can arrange that.

I'll be back!

[ikarma70]

Terry i know i'm not in work at mo but count me in for a donation,only too happy to do my bit

pretty disgraceful to think that these disabled shooters have to endure cold draughty and damp facilities when the rest have warm cushy facilities.

[u.k.neil]

Terry

If you can give me a couple of weeks notice when you organise a Fund Raiser, I will donate a box of my bits to be sold or auctioned to raise a few pennies for this admirable cause.

I too felt ashamed and humbled at this sad state of affairs and it has made me realise how lucky we able-bodied shooters are and that we should have nothing to moan or worry about.

All the very best in this venture.

Neil

[Smokeless Coal]

This might be a big job, are we looking at dressing up a rusty old nissan hut of should we be looking more long tern and a complete new building?

A new structure would require some serious money behind it. Perhaps planning permission. A modern prefab building might do it, are we just looking at airguns or is bigger stuff being fired?

I'm thinking it may need help from the media. There could be a good story here. We are talking about disabled at one of the countries top hospitals, a place where paralympians train, a National Sports facilty, another disgrace whilst Labour are in power. So many angles that could be used by the press.

What sort of funding would we be looking at? 20k, 50k, 100k? A trifling ammount when you consider how much is being spent on 2012. Theres plenty of major contractors sitting idle waiting to start on that project, perhaps they should practice on this one first.

[carcharadon]

and that is an absolutely top idea Good one smokeless coal... Hmm wonder which newspaper would bemost interested in a' look how we treat our disabled paralympic hopefuls' article....

[Rapidnick]

Seems to me that an appeal would raise quite a lot of cash. Also if it could have charitable status then all donations to it would have tax relief.
I'm sure that TD is on to this but it seems to me that the Airgun comics could play their part here. What with him being a top journalist writing for them and all that innit?

[Nealsey]

Mods,

Can we make this a sticky, "lest we forget".

Nealsey

[Nealsey]

Chaps,

If this is going to work as a project to help the disabled shooters of Stoke Mandeville,
it needs to be approached in a logical manner with a scope worked out prior to any
commitments being made.

If it's a working party that is required to fix up and repair the existing building, then
I am pretty sure the BBS could handle it with some local fundraising at events and
contributions from the guys and girls on here for labour etc.

However, if it's a complete rebuild of a major structure, then it is a different approach
and skillset required. This will be major fundraising and lots of shooting press assistance
to bring the requirement to the public eye and god forbid me from saying it, a pitch
up from the bejewelled one with the cigar

Terry will be speaking to the powers that be at the centre today and hopefully we will
have more of an idea what we are up against.

It may be a combination of the above, but lets wait and see the scope of the project
before going off in different directions and not focussing our efforts.

I think this is a glorious opportunity to do some good for the disabled community and
the shooting communities image as a whole. But. let's let Terry see what's required first ,
then we know what we have to achieve.

Nealsey

[Born Again]

Another thought - what about one of those TV programmes where a team have 24 hours to get something renovated, you know the type I mean but I can't remember any names.

[Mrs Keef]

Another thought - what about one of those TV programmes where a team have 24 hours to get something renovated, you know the type I mean but I can't remember any names.

What about the TV programme "Challenge Anneka".

Joan

[Paddy_SP]

I think that the point that has been raised about people not wanting to align themselves with shooting needs to be taken seriously. Having said that, I think we can navigate around it if we have a properly co-ordinated approach. A 'Let's get more guns out there' type of headline is going to fail straight away. A 'Disgrace of abandoned disabled Para-Olympics sportsmen' line is much more likely to be received well. If we could get a TV company interested, it would be a great chance to show the sport and its adherents in a positive light.

[Terry D]

We need to tread a bit carefully here, chaps, because the people that own the building are helping the DTSGB in no small measure by letting them have it rent-free, and we've no wish to offend them. As is usual in charity situations, those that do contribute could, rightly, feel unfairly regarded if we go on a broad-based offensive.

For the time being, can we concentrate on assessing the situation on a practical level until we've met with the DTSGB and we truly know what's what.

That meeting is being sorted as we speak and once I know when it will take place, I'll be rounding up a posse!

[Nealsey]

That meeting is being sorted as we speak and once I know when it will take place, I'll be rounding up a posse!

Terry,

Got the horse saddled and ready, just give me a couple of days notice to
book a day off work.

Nealsey