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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 18 January 2008

‘We’re in your corner,’ Town Hall tells Stars

• IT is highly unfair to single out the council for criticism over the failure of All Stars to win a £7,350 grant when we are working with the club to help it out of its current difficulties.
Our Sports Development Team has been helping to develop the club’s operational procedures and has offered advice and support on how these matters might be improved.
There are annual opportunities for all organisations to apply for grant funding from Westminster. All applicants are assessed in an open and transparent manner as, after all, this is public money and the council takes its funding responsibilities very seriously. Unfortunately, in this instance, All Stars did not succeed.
The council runs four workshops on the application and assessment process prior to the applications being submitted. These are intended to give full guidance to all groups on how to complete the application as thoroughly as possible.
There are also external funding agencies All Stars could apply to in future if they meet those agencies’ funding criteria. In all cases the applicant is competing against other eligible organisations for the limited funding available.
Although we know the club does great work for the community, any funding body will want evidence it is well run and that public money is put to good use.
We want the club to be able to tap into the various potential sports and Olympics funding so it can carry on producing world-class athletes as well as providing a vital resource for the Harrow Road for future generations.
The council’s Sports Development Unit has developed an action plan with the club, which, if implemented would offer a high-quality service to its users.
It would also provide a sound basis for demonstrating to others – particularly grant-aid bodies – the great work that is already being delivered.
While there is much to be done, there is no reason why the club should not be able to successfully compete with other organisations in future funding rounds.
We will continue to work with the club.
JOHN BARRADELL
Deputy Chief Executive,
Westminster City Council.

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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