20th March 2005 update
After several years of fund-raising and completing grant applications we will finally have something to show for all the hard work. Starting on Monday 27th March, all of the windows will be replaced by hardwood double-glazed windows in the same style as before. The units have been hand made by St Martin's Woodwork of Kempsey, near Worcester. The new windows will not only help retain the heat, but will go a long way towards sound-proofing the hall. In addition, there will be a new solid oak front door with matching hardwood frame.
During the 2 week installation period, all existing bookings will continue unaffected in the hall.
Our thanks go to Wychavon District Council, Severn Waste Environmental Fund, and to everyone who contributed to the fund-raising effort.
15th August 2005 update
We are very pleased to annouce that we have been successful in both of the grant applications we have submitted to date. The Severn Waste Environmental Fund have very kindly agreed to award us £9700 towards new windows in the village hall. On top of that Wychavon District Council have pledged a further £5000, one of the largest grants in the current round. This money will be topped up by our own fund raising efforts to provide us with replacement double-glazed windows all around the village hall. This is very encouraging news for all involved in the project. We can at last see some progress after all the fund raising.
16th April 2005 update
After 3 years of successful fund raising, we are pleased to report that we have now applied for our first substantial grant! The Village Hall Committee felt that it was time to begin the next phase of our money raising effort, and apply for grants towards specific packages of work so that we can begin to see some progress for all the money we have raised.
To that end, an application for £9700 has been submitted to Severn Waste Environmental Fund. These funds are for replacement windows for the North and East elevations (the front as seen from the road, and the Chafecote side). This application will be swiftly followed by one for a similar amount to Wychavon District Council for the windows on the remaining elevations. The windows will be double-glazed and made in hardwood in the style of the current windows. We hope to have secured the funds for the windows in time for replacement in the autumn. The new windows will not only help insulate the hall against heat loss, but will also offer much improved soundproofing.
Even more important than the windows is the current state of the roof. We are in the process of gathering quotations for the reroofing and reinsulation of the entire hall. In the meantime we are preparing a grant application to DEFRA to cover this project.
At the moment, the main Lottery Fund, which has enabled many projects like our own to go ahead, is being restructured and new applications are not being invited. It is anticipated that the scheme will be onstream again in the autumn. We are hoping by that time to have secured funds for the roof and windows, so we can then apply to the Lottery Fund for financial support to complete the main village hall refubishment.
I will endeavour to keep you all posted in the coming months. Fingers crossed!
Philip King, on behalf of the Village Hall Committee.
Details, including plans, of the current Village Hall Project for Rous Lench & Radford will be posted here soon. Check back here for regular updates. |
