BIG bucks to bring East Mids village halls into 21st century

Area:

East Midlands

Programme:

Community Buildings

Release date:

30 3 2009

As small towns and villages struggle through the economic downturn, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is bringing vital support to the East Midlands with an announcement of £1.5 million in grants to regenerate facilities and develop community cohesion.

Across the country, the Fund is awarding 55 grants worth £18,815,571 for bricks and mortar investments, to revamp village halls and community centres.

Six communities in the region are celebrating today, having secured a slice of the funding from BIG’s Community Buildings programme.

Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund Head of the East Midlands, said: “In these difficult economic times, community is valued higher than ever. Each of these projects will create a vibrant, multi-purpose hub for people of all ages to meet, socialise, learn and join in activities. We are delighted to support these enterprises, which will bring new opportunities to so many.”

Among those flushed with cash are the residents of Alderwasley in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, who will use a grant of £262,373 to refurbish St Margaret’s Hall, originally a 15th century chapel, and transform it into a modern community centre by introducing running water into the building for the first time.

The parish council project will enhance the layout of the old hall to incorporate a new kitchen and toilets and improved access for people with disabilities. The new building will act as a social centre for the village, bringing people together to enjoy a wide range of activities.

Hilary Wordsley, Chair of St Margaret’s Hall, Alderwasley Redevelopment Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this Big Lottery Fund award will enable our historic medieval hall to be used by the community once again, by bringing 21st century facilities into a 15th century building. The grant will provide running water, modern toilets and kitchen facilities and a ground source heat pump to bring warmth to the old chapel.

“The building will be used for activities, including an lunch club for older residents, carpet bowls, a bridge group, local history society, exercise classes, IT classes and a film society as well as village social functions. It will also provide a unique venue to hire for wedding receptions and parties in the beautiful rural setting of Alderwasley.”

Meanwhile, in East Northamptonshire, the residents of Stanwick are celebrating an award of £275,000 to give their village hall a new lease of life.

The money will be used to create a multi-purpose building on the site of the disused British Legion Hall and adjoining building, known as the Shant.

The new Stanwick Village Hall will be an economically and environmentally sustainable building, comprising a main hall, additional meeting rooms, kitchen, toilets and storeroom.

The extra space will enable three different activities to take place simultaneously, including sports clubs, scout and guide groups and private events such as dances and weddings. It is also hoped one of the smaller meeting rooms will be used by a drop-in health visitor for older residents.

Phil Crooks, Chair of the Stanwick Village Hall Trust, said: “There has been a 40% increase in the population of Stanwick since 1991, yet a decrease in community facilities. With this grant, we can provide activities for young people, families, the elderly and people living with disabilities.

“It will not be long before these dilapidated, unsafe buildings are replaced with something new and beautiful. We are hoping other funders and villagers will now come forward and support this project, to help us raise the rest of the building costs and realise that dream.”

The table below lists all six East Midlands projects receiving awards in today’s announcement:

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Community Buildings is dedicated to investing in buildings that give communities a chance to improve their quality of life and meet local needs, by offering a range of activities and services open to a broad range of people.
• Up to  £50 million is being distributed across England over three years with grants of £50,000 to £500,000 available.
• The programme opened for applications in June 2006. 200 applicants were invited to submit stage 2 applications and development funding was awarded to some projects.
• The programme is now closed for applications.
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £22 billion has now been raised and more than 300,500 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

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