Leisure in Adversity
SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL
You will not be surprised to know that, while Shropshire Council has taken back management of SpArC as from April 1, it is closed and will remain so for the foreseeable future due to Coronavirus. The council itself is under huge pressure to manage the current pandemic. The slight silver lining is that we have Pete Banford and Mathew Mead again to offer community support in South Shropshire.
SpArC CHARITY
The SpArC charity is delighted by the response to its request for new trustees and will respond to them as soon as is practical.
It has, however, postponed its gym equipment order partly because delivery needs to follow refurbishment and partly because we thought we might need the freedom to review our priorities in the light of how the world looks when the pandemic reduces. We have also cancelled the plant stall and film night fund raising events, but there may be a glimmer of hope for the Apple Pressing and a new Ghost Walk.
Ironically, the charity has succeeded in getting another grant – this time £9,000 from the BA Carbon Reduction fund. It will of course be delayed but will be invaluable for the implementation of some energy-saving measures which will be needed even more after the crisis than before.
Our Save the Sparc Facebook page includes a number of Coronavirus updates reminding us all of the advice and guidance that the Government is issuing, as well as regular updates from SpArC Theatre.
SpArC LEISURE
We all need to maintain our fitness over the next few months. Dan has posted on his Facebook page a that has clear teaching points and pictures:(www.facebook.com/DanLewisFitness). Lucy has put a 30-minute Exercise Pilates video on her Facebook page. (www.facebook.com/LucyEvans), accessible to friends. In addition, Sport England has launched 10 Today – a 10-minute exercise routine at 10am every day, accessible through BBC Sound. This is aimed at keeping older people healthy and active during the lockdown and is delivered by a 73-year-old instructor.There is a wide range of aerobic and other sessions available online. If anyone has particular recommendations, I’d be really grateful to hear, so they can be passed one.
SpArC THEATRE
theatre@bishopscastle.co.uk) is giving a wonderful update of free shows from the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Pentabus, Hampstead Theatre, Into Film and others, with links to the detail. The theatre, like the rest of Enterprise South West Shropshire, is losing income big-time. We all need to maintain our support for it, not least by waiving repayment of unused tickets if we are able to do so.
gshemmings@hotmail.com).