A JUVENILE carnival club may just miss out on celebrating its tenth anniversary if it cannot garner the support it needs to survive.

Rascals CC, which is based at the Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster, has seen numbers dwindle over the last two years as children move to senior clubs when they get older.

Adults involved with the club also come and go, and the lack of sheer manpower is a major problem – for example, they have no tractor driver in place for next year.

Now the club’s AGM to be held on Monday (December 9) has been dubbed a ‘make or break’ meeting.

Committee member Lucy Mabey said: “It was decided this time last year that if we didn’t get the numbers this would be a make or break AGM.

“Our two male adult members – who drive the tractor and do the electrical work – are leaving, so it’s up to the remaining six women to save this club.

“We have the generator and the cart, but it really hit home that we need more help when we ended up not being able to complete the circuit this year because our roof collapsed in between Chard and Taunton and we just couldn’t fix it in time.

“We managed to do South Petherton, Wellington, Ilminster and Chard but we couldn’t get to Taunton, Bridgwater and North Petherton as we had planned.”

Six children aged between five and 15 are still flying the flag for Rascals CC.

Lucy added: “We work hard to fundraise every year so we do have some money in the bank but the main thing we need is new members and ideas – however big or small the contribution is we would be so grateful for the support.

“If we don’t get that the club could fold, which would be heart-wrenching for all the kids who are involved.

“The kids are absolutely devastated about the prospect of that – they put in so much time and effort to get it ready each year.”

Some of the youngsters have already voiced their disappointment ahead of the AGM.

Megan Lee said: “I have been a member since it started in 2004 and in my opinion it would be a shame to see a juvenile club fold as these clubs are the next generation in carnivals. Please help save the future of Rascals Carnival Club.”

Alice Barnes added: “It would be a shame for the club to fold as it is great fun and it would upset us all if it ended after us putting so much work into it.”

Anyone interested in getting involved should head along to the AGM, which starts at 7.30pm at the Shrubbery Hotel.

If you can’t make it along or would like to find out more please contact Lucy via lucylovesick@hotmail.co.uk or on 01460-239469 or 07921- 866190.

You can also visit the Facebook page Rascals Carnival Club, Ilminster.