A ‘HUGE’ community effort has brought a village hall in Rugby back to the centre of the community.
Newbold Village Hall has hit a milestone in its ongoing restoration, which has seen it booked every single day for a month for the first time in years.
It comes after the installation of new windows – which had been boarded up for decades – mainly funded by SUEZ Recycling via the Landfill Communities Fund with over £20,000 of grant funding.
Over £80,000 has been spent on the hall’s restoration in recent years, including a new roof, a full paint job, and various other upgrades.
The Trust which looks after the hall has also received £5,400 from Rugby Borough Council to upgrade the fire doors, as well as donated paint and tools from SUEZ Maintenance team and Wickes.
The remainder of funding comes from spending money the hall had accrued over the years.
Further work is needed to bring more of the hall’s spaces back into use, and upgrade the toilets and disabled access – and the Trust will be seeking further grant funding in the coming months.
The Hall’s ongoing ‘Vision Project’ is intended to turn the Hall into a centre of community learning, with connections with local groups being established to showcase Newbold’s heritage.
Alex White, Chair of Trustees, said: “It has taken a huge community effort – but we’re so pleased that the hall is once again becoming a centre for village life here in Newbold. Its restoration is essential to ensuring it is once again a place people want to spend time.
“We see the hall as a partnership – between our volunteers, the village and the local businesses and community groups who use the space. It’s incredibly rewarding to see this historic space still playing a role in so many lives.”
Trust Secretary Alison Livesey added: “We know that there is still a lot to do, but we can truly say that the Village Hall is back.
“What we’re looking at now is how to take the next step – securing more funding to keep up the restoration project, and making connections with other local groups to make the hall a true community hub – a place showcasing our heritage as well as supporting local businesses and voluntary groups.”
The hall offers hiring facilities to all groups, and is currently hosting yoga and exercise classes, dog training lessons, a space for cultural and religious groups, and private parties.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/3cce9bhu for more information.
