News and Updates
Helsby Sports goes even more green
Helsby Community Sports Club is taking bold steps towards greater environmental sustainability.
Building on the success of previous eco-friendly initiatives, including solar panel installations and LED upgrades for our 3G Rugby and Football pitch, we’re now focused on reducing energy consumption further by replacing the outdated halogen floodlights on our Tennis Courts with energy-efficient LEDs.
This enhancement will not only help cut operating costs, but also enable reinvestment into our facilities and community, all while reducing our carbon footprint.
By backing this project, you’ll be supporting a greener future for Helsby Community Sports Club, creating a lasting positive impact on the environment and setting a powerful example of sustainability for generations to come.
Join us in making a meaningful difference—let’s illuminate the path to a brighter, more eco-friendly future together.
Chairman's Update- Bar Performance and Next Steps
How the club bar has changed
Over the past season we have made some important changes to how the HCSC bar is run. The aim has been simple: to turn the bar into a well‑managed, sustainable part of the club that supports everything we do on and off the field.
Previously, the bar operated more informally, with generous discounts and loose controls. That made it feel busy, but it did not always serve the long‑term interests of the club. We have now tightened how the bar is managed so that it contributes positively to the club’s finances, while still offering fair value to members and visitors.
Key improvements
Here are the main changes that have been achieved:
The bar is now run as a proper business unit, not a loss‑making add‑on. Prices, staffing and stock are planned and reviewed, rather than left to habit.
Overall profit from the bar has improved, even though we have reduced heavy discounting and informal “freebies” that were eroding income.
Staffing has been made more efficient. Wages for bar staff and supervisors have been increased to reflect the work they do, yet total wage costs are lower because we are rota‑ing more smartly and matching staff levels to real demand.
Our busiest times – especially weekends and match days – are now the focus of our effort, with less overspending on quiet sessions.
In short, the bar is now supporting the club’s finances instead of quietly draining them.
What this means for members and visitors
These changes were made with the long‑term health of HCSC in mind, not to take value away from members.
The bar remains competitively priced for a club venue, but discounts are now controlled and targeted rather than automatic.
Service levels have been protected by smarter staffing, not by cutting corners. The aim is that when the club is busy, the bar team is there in the right numbers and well led.
The income from the bar helps us to support facilities, teams and events across the club. Every pint, coffee or snack bought under the new model contributes more directly to the future of HCSC.
We recognise that some members will have noticed fewer “cheap deals” and a slightly different feel at the bar. Those changes are deliberate, and they are already strengthening the club’s position.
My role as Chairman
As Chairman, my responsibility is to ensure that the club is run in a way that is fair, sustainable and in the best interests of members over the long term.
Over the last year that has meant:
Backing a move away from unsustainable discounting towards a more disciplined pricing and staffing model.
Supporting the bar team through wage increases and clearer expectations, rather than simply asking them to do more for less.
Accepting that headline bar sales might look lower in the short term while we put the right controls in place and rebuild on firmer ground.
These are not always easy choices, but they are the right ones if we want HCSC to remain strong for the next decade, not just the next season.
What still needs to be done
The work is not finished. The next phase is about building on this stronger footing:
Growing bar sales in the right way – through better events, match‑day experiences and offers that make sense, not by slipping back into heavy discounting.
Continuing to fine‑tune staffing so that we always have enough people on when the bar is busy, without carrying unnecessary cost when it is quiet.
Reviewing our product range and prices regularly so that we offer good value to members while protecting the club’s finances.
Making sure every major fixture and social event has a clear bar plan behind it, so we make the most of those opportunities.
Thank you
These changes only work if members and the wider community understand why they are being made and continue to support the club.
Thank you for your ongoing backing – whether that is buying a drink in the bar, attending events, volunteering, or simply turning up to support our teams. The progress we have made with the bar is one part of a wider effort to put HCSC on a stronger footing, and your support is central to that.
If you have questions or constructive feedback on how the bar is operating, we are always open to hearing it.