11/08/2026
Benington Recreation Ground Charity – A Call for Community Support
Many residents will be aware that for several years the Benington Recreation Ground Charity has been working towards providing a new pavilion following the loss of the previous building to fire.
Over the years, a small group of volunteers has given a considerable amount of time to fundraising, obtaining planning permission and getting the project underway. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, progress has now reached a standstill and there are very few people actively involved in moving the project forward.
The charity currently owns the steel pavilion frame and has approximately £16,000 in the bank. However, the estimated cost of completing the pavilion is now in the region of £350,000, meaning substantial additional funding would be required.
One of the biggest challenges is that funding has become incredibly difficult to obtain. Because construction of the pavilion has already started, the project is ineligible for many of the grants that might otherwise have been available. The remaining funding opportunities are limited and highly competitive. Raising anything approaching the amount required would need a committed team prepared to spend considerable time applying for grants, fundraising and managing the project.
At present, we simply do not have enough people willing or able to take this on.
We therefore intend to hold an Annual General Meeting in mid-October, which will be advertised through the Parish Council, parish magazine, Facebook and village noticeboards.
The AGM will give the village an opportunity to decide whether there is sufficient interest to continue. If people are willing to come forward and actively take on the challenge, all the information and work already undertaken will be made available to help a new team move forward.
However, if there is no appetite within the village to continue, we will have little option but to seek professional legal advice on the future of the charity. This may involve suspending or winding up the charity, selling the steel pavilion frame and ensuring that all remaining assets, including the charity's funds and any interest relating to the recreation ground, are dealt with properly and in accordance with charity law.
This is not a decision we want to make, but the project cannot continue indefinitely without people prepared to drive it forward.
If you would like to get involved, have ideas or feel you could help in any way, please contact us at [email protected]
Please also look out for details of the October AGM. This may be the last opportunity to secure the future of the project.
