Ridgeway School launches Crowdfunding campaign

Crowdfunding may not be a new concept but it’s the first time a Plymouth school has used it to raise funds.

Ridgeway School in Plympton is hoping local people will show their support for a community 3G football pitch by pledging money towards the cost of new equipment.

Currently submitted for planning permission, the state-of- the-art pitch, will be a joint venture between Ridgeway School and The Football Association and it is estimated will cost around £450,000.

The school is hoping to raise £10,000 through Crowdfunder.co.uk to buy much needed pieces of equipment such as goals, nets and maintenance equipment.

“Ridgeway School has sat at the heart of the community for a very long time and providing facilities to our community is very important to us,” said Principal Lisa Boorman. “At a time when school budgets are becoming ever increasingly tighter, it is never more important to find partnership funding. The project has been underwritten jointly by the Football Association and the school, however, we need to raise this money to demonstrate the community’s support for the project and to make it the success it deserves to be.”

Crowdfunding works by people pledging money. The school has ensured that anyone who pledges money from £10 up to £5,000 will get something back. In total there are 17 levels of pledges available. These range from a £10 pledge to receive a certificate showing they are a SNIP – Sports Nut in Plympton, to a £30 pledge for your very own photo shoot by A level photography students, all the way through to £5,000 where someone will receive 12 months membership to the sports centre, a session with a personal trainer, listing on website roll of honour and 2 years advertising space on the 3G pitch. There really is something that will appeal to everyone.

“We feel that it is right to give something back to our supporters, this will be a fantastic community resource that has been needed for many years,” said Ridgeway School Business Manager, Matt Matthew.

The school will also receive funding from the Crowdfund Plymouth Campaign, set up by Plymouth City Council, once it has reached 25% of its target. But the full amount of £10,000 must be then raised to receive that funding.
One local football club held a sponsored match to raise money for the campaign. Chaddlewood Miners Under 9’s played the Under 10’s and raised £500.

Devon County Football Association, who is supporting the project, says there is a real need for a quality training facility.

“This project at Ridgeway School will meet the need identified through the Plymouth Plan for Pitches,” said Christopher French, County Development Manager for Devon County Football Association. “We will be working with the school and their partner clubs, AFC Plympton and Chaddlewood Miners to ensure this facility is maximised by players of all ages.”

“Plympton has needed a 3G facility for a great number of years. We are currently sending teams across the city for training facilities and have numerous match games postponed owing to the weather. This facility will allow the club to train at the same location and provides a fantastic sporting venue for the local community,” said Teresa Hill, Secretary Chaddlewood Miners AFC.

For more information or to make a pledge go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk