I set up the Oficina da Capoeira group in Chichester from scratch almost a year ago - the group's first birthday is on May 28th!

Capoeira is a mix of music, dance and martial arts, and it has been great to see the group grow - it started with classes every Thursday, and now there are classes on Mondays as well. Together, the Monday and Thursday classes are more or less covering the cost of the room hire. However insurance, publicity and a dedicated phone mean the group is a little in the red. I am ok with that, I always knew that I would have to cover costs from my own pocket.

However, I have invested as much as I can afford, and I am asking if you would be kind enough to donate a little money as a first birthday present so that I can continue to grow the group and make it self sustaining.

Your donation would help fund a publicity push in Chichester. Printing flyers to distribute around local Chichester businesses has been a very successful strategy - it has been the main focus of advertising the group, and has resulted in almost 60 unique people trying out capoeria.

Growing the membership by just a couple of regular students a week will help the group comfortably sit in the black, and will allow me to not just cover the operating costs, but to save for other resources - instruments for the music, fitness equipment to help with training and banners that can be used at community events.

Any funds raised in excess of our target will be used to help grow the group - depending on the amount raised, this may be via the Chichester District Council's advertising channels, promotion via social media or other local advertising oportunities.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.

Graduado Kung Fu (aka David Wood)