Rejuvenation of South Cadbury Village Hall

Aim

After falling into disuse, a new influx of villagers wants to rejuvenate the hall and recreate the village life which used to define us.

What is the need for your project in the community? How will your project improve local life?
In recent years, the village hall committee has ceased to work effectively to raise funds and the building has not been fully utilised. A new influx of young families and working people in the village have met and decided they want to breathe new life into the village. The hall has a new energetic committee and we were ready to go when Covid-19 hit us and we had to stop fund-raising. But we have been meeting via zoom to move things forward and to be ready for when the lock down is over.

What support do you have from the local community for your project?
Before the Covid-19 lockdown started, we had a well-attended village meeting to discuss a way forward. There was overwhelming support for the hall and almost every household has signed up to the new 100 Club to help us get started. In fact we've just had to rename it the 150 Club as many want to be involved. Over 20 villagers are volunteering with the committee to help the most vulnerable and elderly villagers during their mandatory 12-week isolation. We have well attended coffee mornings monthly before Covid-19 struck. We have run a garden waste collection while lock down was enforce and had over 20 houses sign up, with help from some strong helpers from the village. We are now sending out regular updates via our Facebook page, our new email address and flyers. We recently set up a VE Day decorate your house competition where over 40 houses took part, the response was so good we had to award two prizes.

Who will benefit from your project?
The village comprises 80 households, roughly 180 residents. A large proportion are elderly/vulnerable and receiving our support during Covid-19 crisis. There are around 23 young families with children who use the village hall playground. It will also mean that we will be able to hold regular events such as talks, race nights, bingo, canape evening and regular coffee mornings.

Tell us more about your project and how it will benefit your community if you are successful.
Our planning was interrupted by the lockdown, but we aim to employ local decorators and flooring contractors to professionally refurbish the inside of the hall as part of a wider refurbishment. Around five years ago, there was a thriving village life with the hall (and pub) at its centre. Annual fetes, classic car meetings and BBQs as well as talks, coffee mornings and film nights. We want to recreate the feeling of community for the benefit of both long-standing and new villagers of all ages.

Please give a breakdown of the costs of your project.
Our priority is to redecorate the interior of the hall and update it with safer, low-energy lighting. As we've been unable to obtain quotes due to the lockdown, I can supply our budget estimates 1. Clean, repair and redorate interior of village hall so it is a pleasant environment and we can start to hire it out to raise future fund - £5,000 2. Replace old hardboard floor with modern surface which will be comfortable and easy to clean - £3,800 3. Replace old fluorescent lighting with LED lights to reduce energy consumption and provide adjustable, dimmable lighting for a wider variety of events - £1,200

This project successfully funded on 16th July 2020