BARNARD Castle Meet volunteers should hear this month whether their application to become a charitable organisation has been successful.
Since 2014, the annual Meet has been operating as a limited company, starting out originally with nine directors.
However, most recently only three remained – Francesca Waring, Shona Robinson and Lesley Taylor – ensuring the traditional event, which started out as a cycle meet in 1885 could continue to be staged.
Activities had to be scaled back in 2019 due to a shortage of volunteers and it was the threat of the popular event folding which led to a revival with about 30 volunteers subsequently stepping forward to help out with planning for the 2020 event.
However, Covid restrictions put paid to the group’s plans for a revamped Meet in 2020 and again in 2021.
To put themselves on a better financial footing the group has applied to become a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) led by a team of trustees to keep the Meet momentum going.
Volunteers who have committed to being trustees include Martyn Maughan, Colin Glasper, Rachel Tweddle, Lesley Taylor, Amy Dobinson, John Emerson and Shona Robinson, who will remain in place until the confirmation of the CIO.
The aims of the organisation are to provide entertainment and events for Barnard Castle Meet weekend, maintaining the historical links to the event’s 19th century roots as a get-together for cyclists.
Changing the company’s status to a CIO will provide the group with more avenues for funding to cover the cost of putting on the event.
They also aim to donate any surplus cash generated by the weekend to local groups and organisations, especially those who have taken part in and supported the Meet.
Ms Taylor said: “The objective to donate any money to local charitable groups and organisations was something that the Meet used to do when we made money.
“Over the last few years, we had to roll the money over each year because it was more expensive to put on.”
