Junior Blues and Lack of places at Events

[Cricko]

This is not meant as any slight on Kay and her Junior Blues as she does a fantastic job but just the fact so many of the children miss out on things, I am led to believe there are now some 3 to 400 junior members who when social functions are on miss out as there are only ever 50 places available. I take the latest Christmas bash at Kingpins that never had the chance to advertise on here as the places were gone in minutes. My three Grandchildren never had a sniff at a place.

I also understand the need for players to attend which can be a hard thing to organise, but the fact is a bigger venue is/maybe needed where all Junior Blues have the chance to attend not just those that happen to see the post first.

It does not have to be a spectacular event but could for example take Kingpins for the whole early evening say 4 till 9 with players and JB coming and going as they could, it's only one night surely they could all make an effort, its about all Junior Blues meeting up not just about the players.

I think next next Meet The Blues day should be all about the Junior Blues.

I am sure Kay is open to any suggestions on how to incorporate more children in invents going forward.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yeah it’s always a pity when numbers are limited. I imagine this is something that a refurbished East Stand can eventually help with by providing a suitable venue but that’s only going to be half the issue. The other will presumably be lack of volunteers (who’ll need to be vetted etc).

I wouldn’t want to have to deal with 50 kids let alone 100 but I’m sure OBL will be grateful for your assistance.

 

[Cricko]

Yeah it’s always a pity when numbers are limited. I imagine this is something that a refurbished East Stand can eventually help with by providing a suitable venue but that’s only going to be half the issue. The other will presumably be lack of volunteers (who’ll need to be vetted etc).

I wouldn’t want to have to deal with 50 kids let alone 100 but I’m sure OBL will be grateful for your assistance.

I think the future plan is of course using something in the East Stand, but in the meantime? I would always help as you know. It could be timed/ staged as to when they turn up. 70 or so at 4 till 5.30 next 70 5.30 till 7 etc.
It is not fair to the children to continue as it is.

 

[BoyWonder2]

I agree.

I took my two boys to the open training session at Roots Hall last season (couldn’t make this seasons one), but the events since then have sold out before I’ve had a chance to book.

Something that caters for larger groups, or as @Cricko says, earlier and later stints.

Could a training session, put on my Kev & co, involving the players, be done at the new training facility, maybe during a school holiday? Even something like the Easter holidays and having two separate days for example?

 

[Cricko]

It's just wrong, 50 Junior Blues got Santa presents and enjoyed today, although that is credible to those that organised things and those that could attend it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

80% of the Junior Blues missed out.

 

[Tinks]

It does seem a shame that so many do miss out but I think it has more to do with the venue and the capacity that is the issue.
I am sure going forward this is something that Kay and Co will look at and are aware of the amount of those who do miss out.

 

[Cricko]

It does seem a shame that so many do miss out but I think it has more to do with the venue and the capacity that is the issue.
I am sure going forward this is something that Kay and Co will look at and are aware of the amount of those who do miss out.

Of course it is Jacks, then they need to think again.

 

[Medway Blue]

It does seem a shame that so many do miss out but I think it has more to do with the venue and the capacity that is the issue.
I am sure going forward this is something that Kay and Co will look at and are aware of the amount of those who do miss out.

It's personnel capacity, as well as venue capacity, what with those who run the sessions doing so as volunteers, in their own time and in addition to their day jobs.

@Cricko I know you have a bit of time on your hands these days, could get you CRB checked and get you volunteering to help run some additional sessions, then we might have capacity to accept more children ;)

Valid suggestions raised about bigger venues, etc., which Kay will be able to answer better than myself. It's not always just the size of the venue that puts a cap on numbers, though.

 

[Rooster79]

I think you have to consider that if you have too many kids attending it dilutes the experience for them. If you say doubled it and had the same amount of players it goes from 6 or 7 kids per player to 13/14 and it loses the charm that comes with it? Also tonight for example there simply wouldn’t have been space for more, every lane was packed.

It’s a tough one, but the answer surely is multiple sessions, I’ve been fortunate that the previous two events I’ve been able to take my son, they are brilliant so really do need to maximise how many get access to it.

 

[LCBB72]

I remember when Steve Phillips ran the JB , Steve had a disco which was popular as well as a couple of training sessions .

 

[OldBlueLady]

Well, thank you.

I really wanted to read this after all the efforts yesterday and having to deal with all the obstacles Kingpins put in the way of our event running successfully.

We were criticised for releasing events at 9am on weekdays. We listened and released the Christmas Party at 8am on a Saturday, after having put teasers out on our social media the day before to say it would be coming. We can't be responsible for the fact that some email providers didn't deliver the emails until nearly an hour later - that is totally out of our control. We have already taken the decision to look at other ways of booking events, and plans are already in place (which I thought I had told you, John) to make changes, so it will become a ballot draw. We actually have nearly 500 members so we are never going to please everyone all the time.

We have previously run bigger events at Goals at Chase School. The outside activities were fine (although weather dependent), but the indoor part had become troublesome. The entertainers weren't able to keep the children (varying in age a lot) engaged, players weren't interested in the indoor side and just stood around, and the last one, the food was an hour late turning up....literally arriving as it was time to leave. The players like the golf and the bowling as they can be proactive.

Also, don't forget that more children, also means more adults and that can sometimes mean two adults, and sometimes an extra non member child. So your bigger activity becomes even bigger numberwise.

We are restricted by availability of the players. The 7 (out of 10) who came yesterday gave up their time to do so. Our events have to fit into their schedules, so, we can't do two nights, we can't even do two sessions - that took 3 hours yesterday for us. As volunteers. Many of the players also don't live locally so it's not always that easy. Bim, for instance, drives in from Luton still. Gus is not local. We are also restricted by venues. There are not many places that can run an affordable party - we looked at Oxygen at the Weir...they wanted to charge £25 a head which is totally unrealistic.

As @Yorkshire Blue says, once the ground is refurbished, events become easier to host at the ground. We had already increased the capacity for Meet the Players Day by 30.

And then, like yesterday, you get 6 that don't turn up and don't even bother to let you know they're not coming........

 

[Tinks]

I have to come out here and fully support Kay and the wonderful work she does with the Junior Blues and it is all voluntary.
Sadly some children do miss out which is a shame but when your restricted with numbers it difficult to keep everyone happy but I am sure Kay and Co will look at this and be aware of this and do everything they can to accommodate.

 

[BoyWonder2]

By the way @OldBlueLady my post was in no way meant as a dig.

I can’t begin to imagine the amount of planning and organising that goes into this, and it certainly doesn’t help when people book spaces and don’t turn up without letting people know and giving you the option of letting others take those spaces.

My boys loved the one they have been too, and I hope to book them onto future ones. With almost 500 kids signed up, some are always going to miss out, which is a shame, but is just how things go.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think the future plan is of course using something in the East Stand, but in the meantime? I would always help as you know. It could be timed/ staged as to when they turn up. 70 or so at 4 till 5.30 next 70 5.30 till 7 etc.
It is not fair to the children to continue as it is.

Can I add, that logistically, this would be a nightmare.

 

[The General]

Brave man Cricko, you are a very brave man …