I would like to tell you a story, so please read on...
Firstly did you know that the hall desperately needs some work doing to keep it in use for all and secondly it just as desperately needs some improvements to make it more attractive for those many clubs and casual users that find the hall invaluable. So let’s start with the essentials. Although the main hall has a new heating system the rear hall needs one as well. The electrics are unreliable as the circuits trip out without good reason. The electrics are showing real signs of age. The rear hall is looking old and tired with redecoration badly needed. These are all short term jobs that the hall management have in hand funds permitting.
However there is no need to be despondent as the management of the hall have already completed a number of projects. As I mentioned the main hall heating, no small, achievement costing over £8,000.00. They have renewed the old guttering that was allowing water to cascade into the hall. They have spent thousands on the electrics so far trying to make them more reliable. The ladies toilet taps have been improved so now the ladies will not end up with wet feet. They have replaced the old water heater in the kitchen with a new reliable one.
So what more are they trying to achieve:
1. New flooring for the main hall stage and back hall. It’s coming to the end of its life.
2. The electric needs replacing soon.
3. Main hall ceiling is no longer suitable for the use the hall is used for and needs up-dating. It needs to be softened and lined to make it a lot more user friendly.
4. The hall storage rooms need redesigning and an allotted bar area created for social events.
5. A patio area at the rear over-looking the river in the distance. It’s a brilliant view.
6. The rear hall can be subdivided making it multi functional for those wishing to hire it.
These are but a few of the projects the management have set as goals for the future. OK what future, how long will it take. It’s already started, but they expect it to take perhaps two years or may be three.
Is this achievable, they think so. They will need funding from many sources. They are already working to make funds available as I write. They also know that the projects in total will, depending on many factors, cost between 100K and 150k to complete. They know that most funding allocations require some funding to be raised locally. So the management with the help of The Friends of Upchurch Village Hall, UpARA, Upchurch Co-op, Upchurch WI, private donors, local business and yourselves by using the hall, they are trying to raise the expected 10% towards those funds that are required. They are well on the way but not all the way as yet.
I just thought you would like to know, I hope you did, but thanks for reading this any way.
John Tutt
On behalf of The Village Hall Management Committee
On behalf of The Village Hall Management Committee
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