Saved from extinction - the Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA) has bounced back after a serious funding crisis.

The future of Covent Garden's one and only community association looked extremely bleak at the end of October 1999, with a projected shortfall of almost £10,000 in the current financial year. A low-profile fund-raising campaign during November and December has changed this situation.

Whilst many charities are familiar with financial difficulties from time-to-time when income from donations dries up, the CGCA experienced one of its most severe funding problems. Our Chairman, Jo Weir, personally wrote to every member of the CGCA, explaining our plight and asking for a donation to enable our work to continue. In addition, Executive members of the CGCA wrote to many personal and business contacts to seek financial help and support. The result has been truly wonderful: by January the shortfall in income had been balanced by very generous financial assistance from a large number of donors, both individuals and businesses.

The immediate problems behind us, we now face the future with a lot more confidence. Our important community work has been safeguarded and we are looking at ways to secure long-term funding from charitable trusts, businesses and fund-raising events. We are thankful that this latest financial cliff-hanger has been overcome and that we are able to concentrate again on the work we are here to do: work hard for a better, cleaner, safer and more pleasant Covent Garden for those who live, work or visit here.

Of course, we need to maintain a regular flow of income and therefore any further donations for the 2000/2001 financial year are much needed. If you are able to assist by making a donation or becoming a subscriber, please see our donations page or our on-line membership form. We would be very grateful for any help you are able to give!

Also see the letter from a reader of the West End Extra newspaper, who breathed an anonymous sigh of relief!

from: West End Extra, 14th January 2000 "You've got to hand it to the CGCA" Good to see the Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA) has survived its brush with closure, 'Gifts halt Christmas closure' (WEE December 17). The developers trying to turn the area into an alcoholics theme park must have been kicking themselves to hear it. Without the diligence of the CGCA we would be overrun with unneeded development of the area. Whatever the criticisms of the organisation, we must accept that in this time of hostile take-overs of residential communities, Covent Garden needs the CGCA and would be worse off without it. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

CGCA comment: we are very grateful to the reader who sent the above letter to the editor - thank you for your very kind and much appreciated comments!

 

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