Press here to read the latest Croquet Association advice

The Coronavirus Lockdown – CA tips to keep in touch

We are all ensconced in our own little cocoons, rather like caged animals in a zoo and no croquet! 

Some are gardening, reading books, working from home, home schooling, etc

How do we keep in touch? 

There is social media. Many clubs have their own Facebook page, and members can keep up to date with what is happening. It’s good for sending messages to everyone. Then there is WhatsApp. Similar to Facebook but easier to manage and no adverts!

For video link there is Facetime. This only works if you have an Apple product, iPhone or iPad. Not much good for Android users, but does allow you to have a face to face chat. We all know how much more we see in a conversation, than what we hear. For Android and Apple users, another one that allows groups to get together for a chat say over a cup of coffee is HouseParty: https://houseparty.com/

Your Council & Executive Board are using an online tool Zoom:  https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html  Its the one that Boris uses for Cabinet meetings. Great if you want to have a large get together, and it is free for users either as unlimited time for up to three people or 40 minutes max for up to 100 people. Eugene Chang has put together a useful ‘how to’ video for those who have it setup on their computer. See CA News.

A quick Google search will help you access each of these and there is usually someone in your club or Federation who can point you in the right direction.

Finally, pick up the phone. Is there someone in your club who is hunkered down and would just appreciate a conversation? Many of us will be experiencing cabin fever and a chat certainly breaks up the monotony.

For those in key roles, THANK YOU for your sterling efforts. Keep safe everyone and we will all be out on the courts later in season (hopefully).

Roger Staples

Chairman Executive Board

CA Emergency Assistance to Full Member Clubs in Financial Difficulty 

The CA has established the “CA Emergency Assistance Fund” to assist Full Member Clubs in the most serious financial difficulty in these testing times, those that expect to be unable to pay bills as they fall due in the foreseeable short-term ie for the six months or so through to the end of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to prevent the closure of an existing club because of unforeseen financial demands which cannot be met from the clubs own resources.

Outline of Key Details

• General terms will be unsecured interest free loans of 3 years duration (no repayment due on first anniversary, 50% on second and 50% on third).
• All Full Member Clubs are eligible to apply 
  
• Qualifying criteria based on expected inability to pay bills as they fall due 
  
• Awards will only be made to clubs believed to be otherwise financially viable 
  
• There will be a moratorium on Development Grants and Loans for the remainder of 2020 (those already approved are unaffected) 
  
• Initial Sum of £50,000 in total to be made available 

Any club which believes that it might need to apply for a loan from the fund should in the first instance now advise incoming CA Hon. Treasurer Ian Burridge (burridge.ian@googlemail.com) that it may need to do so, with an indication of the likely sum required. This is not part of the formal application process, rather the planning process for the development of the scheme and further support that it might be possible to offer clubs.

Details of the formal application process will be announced shortly but will require the submission of two years annual accounts, a cash flow forecast and a plan indicating why a loan is necessary for the club to survive and the level of funding required.

A specific committee will be established to award the available funds appropriately and in a timely manner. Once established it will publish full details of the application process and criteria.

Roger Staples                   Jonathan Isaacs

Chairman Exec Board     Chairman Council