Support Chess - London's first MindSports Centre
Donation protected
Chess players everywhere, we need your help!
Introducing London's first ever MindSports Centre
It is time to move chess into the 21st century - we have to make it fit for purpose - put behind us our own prejudices and what has gone before - our sport needs to become a recognised sport. If anything the unexpected success of the Queens Gambit has demonstrated there is a real thirst and desire to play chess - the MindSports Centre will help deliver that.
Having a working example of commercially viable MindSports centre will help provide a proof point for other projects in the future. Imagine every major city having a centre where you can go, with great facilities , and play your favourite games.
(Note: Photo's and video at the end)
We need your help as a community to make this happen! Big journeys can happen through many small steps. Now is the closest we have ever had as a community to make this a real possibility. Be part of the movement, and help us make a legacy for the next generation to love and enjoy our beautiful game.
Who are we?
We are Christopher Skulte and John White, two people passionate about growing the sport we love, spending hours of our time to support chess locally and across the UK.
Between us we are committee members of London's fastest growing chess club (20 -> 100+ members in 5 years), manager of a division 1 4NCL side, currently representing ECF Bronze members at the ECF Council, and committee member of the London Chess League.
We have each also invested £5,000 personally to this centre to support this vision.
Why do we need your support?
It's up to the communities of all of our MindSports to make this venture a success. We can only look to the US, and the impact of the Saint Louis Chess Club as a base and pillar for growing chess in the US, as well as bringing with it prestige and recognition not seen in decades.
This centre will do the same for chess (& other MindSports) in the UK over time, and we ask our communities to support where they can in the early days to support making this a commercially viable venture.
If every ECF member put it £5 today, we would be at our stretch target by tomorrow.
How we intend to use funds raised?
The building has already been bought (largely funded by the Bridge & Go communities) for £1.76m, and it is time we do our part from Chess. We are looking to raise donations from the chess community to invest into the centre to support renovations and building work needed, along with events which support the growth of chess.
Every £5,000 raised will:
* Purchase a shares into the MindSports Centre - This will gain us ownership of the building - Our investment will be at the same share class as all other investors in this project.
* 2.5% return per year paid through a loan note - Which the profits will be used to continue to promote chess at this venue (see below)
The closing date on Investments into the MindSports Centre is 31st March 2021.
All funds donated after this date will be used to try and buy shares from existing owners, or used to fund rental costs for events at this venue.
Any funds outside of the £5k blocks of shares, along with the yearly investment dividend (after-tax) will be used to fund events (through helping pay for the rental costs) and the promotion of chess within the MindSports Centre.
The goal is to raise at least £10k, a stretch goal of £50k.
Thank you for your donation to supporting our great sport.
Governance
We will provide a yearly summary of the current asset and spending made, showing the benefits of what we have achieved each year, to be tweeted by one of us. To support this project, if we are within £500 of another £5,000 share purchase, I (Chris) will top-up the balance to hit this milestone.
It is possible to transfer the shares and loan notes to a different party if it makes sense that is the best way to manage this investment in the future. (i.e. The ECF or similar), though this will only happen should there be relevant governance in place through a respected chess body.
MindSports Centre Imagery:
Video: Building Prior to Renovations
Introducing London's first ever MindSports Centre
It is time to move chess into the 21st century - we have to make it fit for purpose - put behind us our own prejudices and what has gone before - our sport needs to become a recognised sport. If anything the unexpected success of the Queens Gambit has demonstrated there is a real thirst and desire to play chess - the MindSports Centre will help deliver that.
Having a working example of commercially viable MindSports centre will help provide a proof point for other projects in the future. Imagine every major city having a centre where you can go, with great facilities , and play your favourite games.
(Note: Photo's and video at the end)
We need your help as a community to make this happen! Big journeys can happen through many small steps. Now is the closest we have ever had as a community to make this a real possibility. Be part of the movement, and help us make a legacy for the next generation to love and enjoy our beautiful game.
Who are we?
We are Christopher Skulte and John White, two people passionate about growing the sport we love, spending hours of our time to support chess locally and across the UK.
Between us we are committee members of London's fastest growing chess club (20 -> 100+ members in 5 years), manager of a division 1 4NCL side, currently representing ECF Bronze members at the ECF Council, and committee member of the London Chess League.
We have each also invested £5,000 personally to this centre to support this vision.
Why do we need your support?
It's up to the communities of all of our MindSports to make this venture a success. We can only look to the US, and the impact of the Saint Louis Chess Club as a base and pillar for growing chess in the US, as well as bringing with it prestige and recognition not seen in decades.
This centre will do the same for chess (& other MindSports) in the UK over time, and we ask our communities to support where they can in the early days to support making this a commercially viable venture.
If every ECF member put it £5 today, we would be at our stretch target by tomorrow.
How we intend to use funds raised?
The building has already been bought (largely funded by the Bridge & Go communities) for £1.76m, and it is time we do our part from Chess. We are looking to raise donations from the chess community to invest into the centre to support renovations and building work needed, along with events which support the growth of chess.
Every £5,000 raised will:
* Purchase a shares into the MindSports Centre - This will gain us ownership of the building - Our investment will be at the same share class as all other investors in this project.
* 2.5% return per year paid through a loan note - Which the profits will be used to continue to promote chess at this venue (see below)
The closing date on Investments into the MindSports Centre is 31st March 2021.
All funds donated after this date will be used to try and buy shares from existing owners, or used to fund rental costs for events at this venue.
Any funds outside of the £5k blocks of shares, along with the yearly investment dividend (after-tax) will be used to fund events (through helping pay for the rental costs) and the promotion of chess within the MindSports Centre.
The goal is to raise at least £10k, a stretch goal of £50k.
Thank you for your donation to supporting our great sport.
Governance
We will provide a yearly summary of the current asset and spending made, showing the benefits of what we have achieved each year, to be tweeted by one of us. To support this project, if we are within £500 of another £5,000 share purchase, I (Chris) will top-up the balance to hit this milestone.
It is possible to transfer the shares and loan notes to a different party if it makes sense that is the best way to manage this investment in the future. (i.e. The ECF or similar), though this will only happen should there be relevant governance in place through a respected chess body.
MindSports Centre Imagery:
Video: Building Prior to Renovations
Organizer
Christopher Skulte
Organizer
