Clara Vale Warm Space

Aim

This Crowdfunder is now closed. If you wish to make a donation directly to the village hall please contact [email protected]. Thanks

NEWSFLASH

Due to the success of the Rewards Vouchers we have decided to extend the amount of time that you have to use your vouchers at Warm Space/Breakfast events. All Rewards Vouchers are usable upto the end of June 2023. If you purchase a Hall Booking Voucher it is usable upto the end of December 2023. 

Due to the slightly whacky way the crowdfunder site works I cant change the wording on the rewards vouchers which generally states all vouchers are usable to end of April. Don't worry you will get a voucher emailed to you which will state the longer expiration date.

If you wish to donate a specific amount not covered by the rewards please get in touch and we will see what we can do. [email protected]

 Thank You for your support.

Who are we?

The Clara Vale Village Hall Association was set up following a decision by the Gateshead Council to give financial responsibility of managing Clara Vale Village Hall directly to the community. Normally the association is responsible for providing activities that enhance and support the wellbeing of the residents of Clara Vale, Stannerford Road and surrounding areas. In more "normal" times this meant providing all the things you might expect to find in a village hall, coffee mornings, exercise classes, parties, weddings, pizza nights and loads more.

This year with the massive increase in energy costs the association took the decision to launch the Warm Spaces project to make Clara Vale Village Hall as a warm venue where everyone could meet and socialize and get good low cost food and drinks.  These additional services are provided almost entirely by volunteers.  

Clara Vale Village Hall has been used as the venue for Warm Spaces 2 day a week when low cost food is provided to anybody. Between the hours of 11-3 on Mondays and Wednesdays warm food and drinks are served. The warm space project is delivered almost entirely by a team of volunteers who provide and serve food & tidy up and promote the existence of the warm space. We have also run sessions on reducing your energy bills, green energy & we are also looking to provide support for individuals in need.

Although we cover most of our food costs from sales we would like to extend the offer allowing persons to cook on site and by purchasing a chest frezer and storage cupboards for food.

We are aware that young people be preparing for life changing exams during the winter period and we would like to have a dedicated warm space where young people could revise during the half term holidays in February. We would also like to provide free table sessions at the end of "swotting" time to allow them to exercise both their minds and bodies.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Like everyone else heating the village hall has meant a massive increase in our energy bills this year. We estimate that we will spend over £12,000. We could just restrict use of the hall but we have chosen instead to encourage people to use the hall as a warm safe place to socialise and get a drink and food. 

This will mean our energy bill is going to be even higher so we are asking for your help to pay these costs. We are hoping to be successful with our matched funding bid with the Coop who will match fund each donation upto a maximum of £250 per doner.   

How we’ll spend the money raised

We will use any donations to pay our energy bills in running the warm space events and to encourage folks to use the facilities to stay warm and safe. 

We have also needed to increase our budget for cleaning and some staff hours in order to accomodate the additional opening hours of the hall and we need to ensure that these costs are covered throughout the year.

This project successfully funded on 25th March 2023