VOLUNTEERING AT FINSBURY PARK TRACK

As you are probably all aware, our wonderful track at Finsbury Park is managed by Finsbury Park Sports Partnership (FPSP), which is run almost entirely by volunteers. Long-standing Heathside members Adrian Essex and Mike Hickey have recently been elected to FPSP's Board of Trustees, the latter as Chairman.

With Mike at the helm, the time has come for us to get the facilities at Finsbury Park into the best condition we can, so that we - and the next generation - can enjoy training and competing there for many years to come.

Given that the track is run and operated largely by volunteers (including Heathside coaches, committee members, regular members, and many more from other clubs involved with FPSP), we are going to have to step up our involvement if we are to succeed in upgrading the experience of training and competing at the track, Above all, we have to avoid any possibility that the track facilities deteriorate in any way. In the fullness of time, paid staff will be the ones to maintain a really top-notch track facility. Right now, there's not enough money for that. So we need to come together and put our collective shoulder to the wheel.

To that end, Adrian Essex and I are planning to set up regular "volunteer mornings" with a view to forming a mobile and flexible group of people who can spare a few hours to come to the track and help out with general maintenance and improvements from time to time. After a couple of pilot sessions over the last month, they are planning to set up regular volunteer sessions in January.

The first volunteer morning will be on Monday 10th January, from 10am - 1pm, and we are planning to run sessions every two weeks on the same day at the same time thereafter.

If you are free on Monday 10th, or any Monday morning every two weeks after that, please come along and lend a hand. If you come just once, that will be appreciated. If you come every two weeks, we'll install a bench by the track with your name inscribed on it (OK, we won't do that but we WILL be very grateful).

Adrian and I would like to build a loose troop of volunteers from right across the club who will come along on a Monday morning when they can. Maybe you're a teacher and can come during school holidays? Maybe you're a student and can come during college holidays? Maybe you're retired and have lots of free time? Maybe you're working from home and can be away from your "office" for a few hours? Maybe you're having a "staycation" and have nothing special to do? We'd love to see you join in with us.

We want the volunteer experience to be sociable, helpful, and regular. If we can achieve that, then we'll slowly but surely transform the state of the track and track compound as the weeks roll by.

Remember, the track is only there thanks to the efforts of volunteers. Join us, if you can. Adrian and I make excellent company (assuming you enjoy talking about injuries and how things ain't what they used to be), and the club will sub us a Flat White from the park cafe to help keep the energy levels up. It'll be the most fun you've ever had with gloves on!

If you can make it on Monday 10th January 10am-1pm, or any other second Monday thereafter, please let myself or Adrian Essex know. It's also permissible to just turn up. If you know of anyone (other members or not) who might enjoy the experience, please feel free to pass this message on or bring them along.

Let's do our bit to help the track remain the asset to Heathside and the wider athletics community we all know it to be.

 Best wishes Chris Hartley

Chris Hartley - christopherhartley@yahoo.co.uk

Adrian Essex - omotng@gmail.com