IN these extremely difficult and challenging times for all businesses, we are urgently in need of financial support via our Club Cash lottery.
This isn’t the first time, since we were hit by Covid-19, that we have lodged such an appeal to all those with Oldham RLFC at heart.
Unfortunately, while some have responded positively, our income from Club Cash has dropped by nearly 50 per cent since the current world-wide situation began which included social distancing and, subsequently, prevented further door-to-door lottery collections.
Last month we sent out hundreds of letters to lottery members and, via the website and our social media platforms, urged others to consider joining the lottery, which could be a potential lifeline in these critical times, for only £1 a week.
In a letter signed by our lottery co-ordinator John McAndrew, members were told:
“As part of our constant reviewing of our operations and procedures our attention has turned to the current situation facing us all relating to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
“With that in mind we will be making a number of operational amendments in the coming weeks to minimise the threat to the lottery, the good causes we support and, most importantly, the health of staff and members.
“Whilst the interaction between agents and members is brief and doesn’t constitute ‘close contact’, and the inherent risk to members is minimal, we are introducing ways for our collecting agents to reduce this risk further.”
While some members paid agents differing amounts ‘up front’ to cover the next few weeks and others subsequently filled in forms to start paying by direct debit or instructed their banks to do a bank transfer, the overall result was the significant drop in membership as mentioned above.
As a result of the decrease in member numbers, which is being felt by all clubs and organisations, we can confirm that we have, temporarily, modified the weekly prize structure for the time being in line with the number of people taking part.
We still offer a weekly first prize of £1,000 plus further prizes of £100, £50, £25 and some £10 consolation prizes, and we urgently and seriously need people to help us on this and there are three ways in which it can be done; all for £1 a week.
There is no telling how long it will be before door-to-door collections can start again,so please consider one of these alternative methods of payment in order to assist the club in its time of great need.
Whether an existing or a potential new member:
- You can pay a sum of your choice — ideally a minimum of £10 — direct into our bank account, making sure you put your telephone number as a reference and then we will contact you. The sort code is 23-18-84 and the account number is 19684341.
- Ring the lottery team on 07904 898177 — we are working from home and are ‘open’ Monday to Friday during normal office hours — and pay by credit or debit card.
- Fill out a direct debit form which you can download from the club’s website and send to the club address, namely Oldham RLFC, Vestacare Stadium, Whitebank Rd, Oldham OL8 3JH. It is important you send the form to the club, NOT to your bank.
Do one of those and we will make sure you are entered into the weekly draw, the results of which are given every week on the website, over the coming weeks and months.
To help us further, and if you normally pay at your door, we would appreciate it if you could contact us on 07904 898177 because we don’t have much data for cash members and your contact number would enable us to communicate better going forward.
If you wish to discuss this further please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Many thanks,
John McAndrew
Lottery Manager
OLDHAM RLFC
