Compressor Fund

The “Compressor Fund” is a medium to long term fundraising effort to raise capital to invest in protecting the future of the Club. Although annual cash flow through membership fees and grants comfortably covers the maintenance requirements of the club and the purchase of additional items of moderate cost, it does not allow for the purchase of large capital items. Since it is now many years since we last received a large grant for such a capital item or participated in large scale fundraising, when better than the 50th Anniversary to launch a new appeal? – The “Compressor Fund”!

Currently, CUUEG does not own a compressor, and filling cylinders weekly for pool sessions, expeditions, and open water training involves a considerable amount of driving, manhandling, and time! Fills are charged at full cost to us regardless of how much air is actually added! Owning our own compressor will mitigate these problems, and in due course we may even allow be able to recover some of the running costs by filling cylinders and supplying nitrox to other divers and diving clubs in Cambridge.

The 2007 BSAC syllabus acts to combine the entry level nitrox qualification with the new OD/SD course. Nitrox is very relevant to the dive profiles we undertake, and makes diving a safer activity. As a consequence, the use of nitrox in the Club has already expanded and undoubtedly will do so even more in the near future. CUUEG may therefore wish to consider a compressor that would allow us to fill nitrox, rather than just air; a number of systems are being considered, including a compressor with a nitrox membrane system. This would be very useful for the Club, although, inevitably, more expensive that a simple compressor for air fills.

If you are interested in making a donation to the CUUEG compressor fund please contact our diving officer.

A fundraising appeal of this magnitude is (as far as we know) unprecedented in recent Club history, and hence the level of response and the fund timescale are completely unknown. It is possible therefore that in the course of a lengthy fundraising timescale, the club’s financial situation, requirements, or aims could change owing to other circumstances. The final decision to purchase a compressor will require the approval of the Club's Committee. Whilst our intention is to purchase a compressor, it is prudent to consider other situations in advance. As such, unless a donor agrees otherwise with the Committee at the time of donation, in the event that: (i) the Committee determines that it is not appropriate to purchase a compressor; or (ii) the total funds received exceed the sum needed to purchase a compressor (including ancillary items and providing for initial running costs), all donations received may: (i) be used to fund the purchase of alternative capital items that would (in the Committee's opinion) benefit the Club; or (ii) be donated to one or more diving-related charities.