Lunar Gymnastics Club is shooting for the stars to land Calor funds

Like many others just now, the club is closed as a result of the coronavirus.

That meant one of the group’s biggest fundraisers, the annual festival, also had to be postponed in March.

However, that has not stopped the determined parent management team, which runs the charity, bidding for the Calor Rural Community Fund.

Lunar is trying to win £5000 – but needs Gazette readers’ support to do so.

There are 604 entries in total vying for a cash injection from this year’s £85,000 prize pot.

Locals have until July 16 to get behind their local cause via communityfund.calor.co.uk and spreading the word far and wide through social media – to help Lunar reach the final shortlist.

Points are allocated for likes, shares and pledges towards a particular project but it must be done on the communityfund.calor.co.uk crowdfunding page.

Even if the club doesn’t make the shortlist, it will receive all money pledged to the project by July 16.

Only projects with the highest engagement score will make it through to the final stage, where they will be reviewed by a panel of impartial judges before the final decisions are made.

And Lunar is hoping readers will get behind them – every like they receive on the Calor crowdfunding page earns one point. If you donate funds, ten points are allocated – but only the once.

Shona Smillie, the club’s grants officer, said: “We’re currently sitting in 67th place with 58 likes and 11 supporters donating £405 to the £5000 target.

“I think people have been liking us on our own Facebook page instead of on the actual site – and, sadly, that doesn’t count in terms of points.

“The other problem we have is that because we’re closed just now, people don’t know we need their support.

“So we’re hoping this appeal will help get us in the running for the £5000 finalist list.”

All monies raised will go towards a raised pit in the gym’s premises in Lesmahagow, providing a soft landing for those still learning their moves.

The equipment will cost £8400 in total, so the Calor funds would be a huge boost.

Shona said: “We have a blow-up pit at the moment but we want to build a permanent one. The Calor funds would go a long way in helping us.

“The pit allows our members to build up their confidence, providing a soft landing for them while they perfect their skills.

“Everything is on hold just now because of the lockdown but we’re hoping to raise enough money to install the pit next year.

“We have around 130 members – children, young people and adults – from all over Clydesdale who usually attend our weekly classes.

“We’re hoping they will all get behind us and help us get into the running for the Calor funding. It would be a huge morale boost just now.”

Lunar Gymnastics Club started life at the YMCA in Lanark in 2003.

It became a registered charity in 2017 and moved to premises in Lesmahagow’s Gateside Industrial Estate in December that year.

Shona said: “The YMCA was a small unit and the equipment had to be put away every night.

“We were looking for a gym and found our current premises, a 19,000 square foot unit solely for our use.

“That allowed us to install a 25ft tumble track and equip the gym for classes, which we run for all ages.”

Lunar also has two competitive teams – a tumbling and acrobatics group and a display team.

With members aged up to 17, the competitive squads take part in competitions across the country and there have been many success stories.

Shona said: “A couple of our girls were selected for the British Championships this year but the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.”

That wasn’t the only disappointment, though.

Shona, from Carluke whose daughter has been a club member for five years, added: “We had to close the doors just before our annual festival in March.

“Everything is on hold and we’re just waiting on government guidance on when we can open again.

“We raise money from our competitions and festval so it’s a bit of a waiting game but fingers crossed we’ll be up and running again soon.”

In the meantime, you can support Lunar’s bid at communityfund.calor.co.uk/raised-pit-for-gymnastics-club.

In the nation’s hands

Some 24 projects in rural communities the length and breadth of Scotland are vying for support.

All have one thing in common – they are rural projects which fit the Calor bill, seeking grants of £1000, £2500 or £5000.

Lunar Gymnastics Club is hoping to secure £5000 and is the only group in Clydesdale that is in the running.

It is currently sitting in 67th place but readers have until July 16 to show their support and turn its fortunes around.

Andy Parker, head of strategy and corporate affairs at Calor, said: “We are delighted to see that, despite recent events, community spirit is thriving across the UK.

“With more than 600 entries, this is a record for the Rural Community Fund which is now in its fourth year.

“Now, more than ever, we’re passionate about continuing to show our support for these off-grid projects as we’ve seen the kind of transformations these vital cash injections can provide for local areas.

“We feel it’s important to put these entries out for public support so that the nation can help decide where the funding should go this year.”

Each project has its own page at communityfund.calor.co.uk so that people can find out more about their bids and, hopefully, support them.

Over the last three years Calor has supported worthwhile community causes with a total of £225,000 worth of funding that has revitalised causes at the heart of small, rural communities.

This year’s fund is the largest yet with £85,000 being made available to mark the energy supplier’s 85th anniversary.