Historic boys' club told to change name or lose funding
A historic boys' club could face closure after a council threatened to withdraw funding unless it changes its name and admits more girls. Council officials have told Broad Plain Boys' Club, Easton, an inner city area of Bristol, that it does not meet its equality standards. The club, which has helped thousands of children, said it had had its name since it was founded in 1894, and it does cater for girls two days a week. The leader, Dennis Stinchcombe, who was made an MBE for his work, has been warned that unless he changes the club's name the authority will withdraw the £11,600-a-year funding it receives for two paid staff to work alongside volunteers.. Bristol City Council wants the club to cater equally for both boys and girls, despite funding other minority and single sex groups. It gives £30,494-a-year to the Bristol and Avon Chinese Women's Group, £32,765 to the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society for youth training, and £10,984 to the Bristol Pakistani Welfare Community, a women's group. Council officials want the club, which has been held up as one of the best examples in the country of how to help young men develop, to change its name to the Working with Young People Club. Mr Stinchcombe, who has been in charge of the club for 33 years, said: "What goes on in this building is phenomenal. It is a sanctuary for young people. Whoever comes in here belongs to a great big family. "But the local authority feels we do not give enough club time to girls. "What I am saying to the local authority is that they will not pay us anything to give more time to girls. We would have to take on one female leader at the very least." He added: "They want us to drop the name Broad Plain Boys' Club, no matter that we have had that name for more than 100 years. It is ludicrous. "We carried out a poll with the kids and every one of them said they would much prefer to keep the Broad Plain Boys' Club name. "It will cost thousands to change the name. We would have to get new letterheads, change all the equipment with the name on it." The club offers a range of sports for both boys and girls aged from seven to 25. Boys make up the majority of members, using the club four nights a week for a range of sports including football, basketball, boxing and snooker. On a Thursday night the club hosts a mixed evening, while female boxers also train with the boys on a Tuesday night. Mr Stinchcombe said: "We are a melting pot here. There are no problems with race, colour or creed. Why would I want to change something that works?" Bristol City Council said: "We are having productive discussions with the club about providing a service that will equally benefit girls as well as boys and ensuring that their name reflects the service they offer." Richard Eddy, leader of Bristol's Conservative Group, said: "It would be an absolute disgrace if funding for this wonderful group was taken away, because of some misplaced sense of political correctness." http://tinyurl.com/67t9gg
A historic boys' club could face closure after a council threatened to withdraw funding unless it changes its name and admits more girls. Council officials have told Broad Plain Boys' Club, Easton, an inner city area of Bristol, that it does not meet its equality standards. The club, which has helped thousands of children, said it had had its name since it was founded in 1894, and it does cater for girls two days a week. The leader, Dennis Stinchcombe, who was made an MBE for his work, has been warned that unless he changes the club's name the authority will withdraw the £11,600-a-year funding it receives for two paid staff to work alongside volunteers.. Bristol City Council wants the club to cater equally for both boys and girls, despite funding other minority and single sex groups. It gives £30,494-a-year to the Bristol and Avon Chinese Women's Group, £32,765 to the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society for youth training, and £10,984 to the Bristol Pakistani Welfare Community, a women's group. Council officials want the club, which has been held up as one of the best examples in the country of how to help young men develop, to change its name to the Working with Young People Club. Mr Stinchcombe, who has been in charge of the club for 33 years, said: "What goes on in this building is phenomenal. It is a sanctuary for young people. Whoever comes in here belongs to a great big family. "But the local authority feels we do not give enough club time to girls. "What I am saying to the local authority is that they will not pay us anything to give more time to girls. We would have to take on one female leader at the very least." He added: "They want us to drop the name Broad Plain Boys' Club, no matter that we have had that name for more than 100 years. It is ludicrous. "We carried out a poll with the kids and every one of them said they would much prefer to keep the Broad Plain Boys' Club name. "It will cost thousands to change the name. We would have to get new letterheads, change all the equipment with the name on it." The club offers a range of sports for both boys and girls aged from seven to 25. Boys make up the majority of members, using the club four nights a week for a range of sports including football, basketball, boxing and snooker. On a Thursday night the club hosts a mixed evening, while female boxers also train with the boys on a Tuesday night. Mr Stinchcombe said: "We are a melting pot here. There are no problems with race, colour or creed. Why would I want to change something that works?" Bristol City Council said: "We are having productive discussions with the club about providing a service that will equally benefit girls as well as boys and ensuring that their name reflects the service they offer." Richard Eddy, leader of Bristol's Conservative Group, said: "It would be an absolute disgrace if funding for this wonderful group was taken away, because of some misplaced sense of political correctness." http://tinyurl.com/67t9gg