Press Release, February 9th 2009:

Ilex Trust and Sports Forum merge
to increase support for sport in Tring

Two leading sports organisations in Tring have announced their amalgamation. Tring Sports Forum, who recently put forward a proposal for extending sporting facilities in the town, is merging with The Ilex Trust, a charity that raises money to provide professional coaches in local schools and introduce young people to sport. The merger is intended to enable the new organisation, which will be called Tring Community Sports Trust, to deliver even more support for local community sports development and increased participation in sport.

All the activities of Ilex and the Tring Sports Forum (TSF) will continue as before and their original names will be retained under the new umbrella organisation. Ilex will continue to run its TryAngle (rugby) and Extra Cover (cricket) coaching programmes; and Tring Sports Forum will continue to pursue its vision plan for sports development in Tring (for more details please click here), as well as its other activities on behalf of local community clubs.

Pictured below in the recent snow are (from left to right) Chris Allen (TSF secretary), Mike James (TSF Chairman) and Andy Criddle (TSF vice-chairman) of Tring Sports Forum with Dave Sidwell of Ilex Trust and Chris Wallis of Tring Sports Forum.

David Sidwell, founder of The Ilex Trust, outlined the thinking behind the merger: “There was a natural fit between the remit and vision of IIex and the Forum. Both organisations were acting as a catalyst for the development of sporting facilities and opportunities. We were already working closely with many of the clubs within the Forum and by coordinating our efforts we believe we will be even more effective in attracting and raising funding for sport in this area.”

The Vice-Chairman of Tring Sports Forum, Andy Criddle, explained both the benefits and responsibilities of this for TSF. “The merger means that TSF now has the formal status necessary to become even more effective, especially in raising funds and expanding the debate about the need for improving and expanding facilities locally. Our vision plan is already stimulating that debate and our new status will help us to drive this forward on behalf of the local clubs. However, we also recognise that we now have additional responsibilities as trustees, which include ensuring that Tring Community Sports Trust effectively contributes to the increased sense of belonging and community spirit which sport can deliver.”

Mike James, Andy Criddle and Chris Wallis from Tring Sports Forum will join the three existing trustees from Ilex, David Sidwell, Simon Shearman and Peter Borg-Neal, as trustees. All these individuals are well known within Tring’s sporting community and have been actively involved in sport in Tring for many years – one of their families being able to trace four generations of participation in sport in Tring.