It’s been a very good year for the Subscription Rooms.

The Open Day in April 2009 was really well supported and highlighted the high level of interest in this wonderful old building which many of you know better as the old Boys Club. Fifty people who attended that day signed up to become members of NYCE (the Charity which manages the building and its site). Many of those members have since been actively involved and our AGM last November was really well attended and the membership list continues to grow.

We are especially grateful to one of those members for the work he has done in setting up our website (www.nailsworthsubrooms.org.uk). This gives a very effective way of promoting and recording our activities and also tells you the long history of the Subscription Rooms before they became a Boys Club in 1960.

NYCE's charitable status is now firmly established. The emphasis remains on providing activities for young people. The 10 members of the management committee have wide ranging experience in both the private and public sector and experience with young people in both professional and voluntary capacities. If someone with legal expertise would like to join us they would be very welcome. Since last April refurbishment of the building has continued with a major redecoration of the Main Hall and Coffee Bar.

As this is written NYCE is in the final stages of setting up a new 21 year lease with the Tennis Club which extends the area leased to include a new Junior training court.

A new venture Practical Intelligence, a separate not for profit enterprise, has been set up on the Lower Ground floor of the building.

Table tennis has risen from the ashes thanks to a few energetic and talented 'Old Boys' and their Phoenix club. Badminton is also firmly established again in the Main Hall.

For one night only the main Hall returned to its former use as a cinema with a Nailsworth Film Club special event, 'The Orphanage'.

Links with the National Association of Clubs for Young People have been re-established and a film making venture, Boom, sponsored by them has been delivered in the building.

Stroud District Council has granted NYCE a premises licence for dance, music and sport and also for the sale of alcohol. All or part of the building can be hired out and this has provided useful revenue. Parking spaces in front of the building have also provided additional revenue.

In March 2009 NYCE was asked by the Trustees to bid for money from the Arkell Bequest. We are delighted to say that the bid was successful and the £30,000 will be spent on improving the toilet facilities and the kitchen facilities. The money also covers new curtains and these have already been fitted.

NYCE has carried out a wide ranging consultation of local people about future use of the building and especially activities for the 15-25 age-group. If you weren’t consulted please let us have your views. NYCE is revising its Business Plan and when complete this will be posted on the website.

The committee organised another Open Day on Saturday 22 May 2010 during the Nailsworth Festival. The activities included an art exhibition and jewellery workshop on the lower ground floor, table tennis and mini tennis in the main hall and a coffee bar upstairs. After the sports gear was put away the Hall provided a great venue for some aspiring young bands and the more well established. The appreciative audience also spanned a wide age range.

This is just a flavour of the last year at the Subscription Rooms. For the latest news please look at our website and if you want to get involved or want to make a booking please contact NYCE either by email or a note through the letter box in Bath Road.

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