THOUSANDS of people around the dale and further afield have been contacted by officials from The Witham as they desperately seek to drum up more support – and cash – for the appeal to raise £30,000 in 30 days to save the centre from closure.
In the week after the appeal was launched, £9,595 has poured in from 50 donors.
However, interim director Shelagh Avery said the appeal was “slightly behind the curve” if the target was to be met.
“On a campaign like this, you would expect a peak in the first week and the final week with a lull in the middle,” she said.
In an effort to attract further cash, some 3,500 people on The Witham’s mailing list were contacted by email to make them aware of the centre’s plight, outline the campaign and explain how donations can be made.
The Witham is currently losing £10,000 a month. If the £30,000 target is reached, it will give trustees some short-term breathing space as they aim to attract a further £150,000 by spring next year, which they hope will secure its long-term future.
A decision on The Witham’s future will be taken in mid-September, once the £30,000 appeal has run its course.
Bob Garton, chairman of the trustees, said in addition to donations, supporters were coming forward with ideas for fundraising events and activities to help the appeal.
“Lots of ideas have been coming in and we are busily sorting through them to see which ones are viable in the timescale we have and the resources available.
“Could you be sponsored for holding a coffee morning, holding a cake bake or a poetry reading, washing cars, busking in the bar or holding an art workshop?
“Everything you do to help us reach the £30,000 will ensure The Witham continues to enrich people’s lives through providing quality entertainment and bringing people in our community together.”
Staff at The Witham are leading the way with their own fundraising efforts.
Cafe manager Suzanne Wallace is to do a sponsored 15k run on the treadmill at Teesdale Leisure Centre on Monday, September 3.
Other staff are organising a sponsored bag pack at Morrisons and on September 1, a drop-in day is planned at The Witham between 11am to 2.30pm for anyone who wants to meet staff and trustees, share ideas and provide feedback.
Ms Avery said that where a donation had been made with conditions that it should be used for a specific purpose or area of The Witham’s operation, the request would be honoured.
One of the difficulties being encountered by trustees is that they had to launch the appeal during the school summer holidays when not as many people were coming through the door.
Ms Avery said: “Two or three key groups that use The Witham, such as the pilates class, are on their holidays.”
The Witham re-opened in 2013 after some £3.2million was spent renovating the building.
