A message of thanks from village hall committee chair Jeremy Bowman
Edgmond Village Hall committee, with the help of many people and organisations, is in the closing stages of adding 150 square metres of new accommodation to the existing hall.
The extension comprises a new vaulted ceiling function room with feature beams, new meeting room, new kitchen and new WCs.
The structure is completely new, bright, spacious, comfortable and economical to run, and more importantly enables different parts of the village hall be to let out and accessed at the same time – greatly improving flexibility to our user groups and individual hirers.
Edgmond Village Hall is a community facility that is run as a charity for the benefit of villagers, with those living in the surrounding area also welcome. A variety of community groups hold regular meetings and the hall facilities are increasingly being used to hold parties, celebrations, wedding receptions and christenings.
The committee runs the hall voluntarily and is assisted by the valued help of our caretaker David and our cleaner Teresa. However, this is only half the story. Our gardening volunteers have created and maintain a nature trail around the grounds perimeter in association with Edgmond Owls.
Our Events Team has generated a steady stream of funds which has been essential in topping up funds for the extension and will enable the renewal of existing facilities going forward.
Telford & Wrekin Council provided around 80% of the money required with a £95,000 Community Pride Fund grant. This project simply could not have been started in this decade without this grant. There has also been some very dedicated community fund raising to make up the £25,000 balance – involving cakes, fish and chips, quizzes, fetes and table top sales. Well done our fabulous events team for an immense amount of hard work.
We have also benefitted from individual and group donations and local charity auctions at the Lion P.H. and our own 200 Club lottery.
Conscious of the privileged position we are in to have been in receipt of these funds, the build has been achieved at a very impressive cost per square metre. This has been achieved partly by employing a very skilled, thoughtful and efficient builder in Otto Blank but also by organising volunteer labour and assistance in the closing stages.
Groups of volunteers have fitted doors, skirting and architrave, and have applied over 90 litres of paint to the walls and woodwork!
We are very proud of the quality of the new facilities and are expecting the new flexible spaces to appeal to fitness and skills groups as well as an even greater number of individual hirers for parties and celebrations.
All in all this project has involved research, discussion, expertise, loaned equipment, grants, donations and self-generated funds and last but not least a whole heap of volunteer time and dedication. Thank you everybody, no matter how small or large your involvement.
We are grateful to Telford & Wrekin Council and everyone who has had anything to do with supporting Edgmond Village Hall and its events during the past three years.Our particular thanks go to:Harper Adams University – various departments and especially the grounds team
- Harper Adams University – Students Union
- The Edgmond Lion – Sam & Laura
- Anne Green
- Derek Longstaff
- Otto Blank – Otto, Joe and Peter
- Acorn Electrical
- Ashley Bishop, Andrew Bishop, David Blinkhorne
- John Hill, BEW
- Carpetloom
- Alan and his Grounds Team
- Our events team
There will be a grand opening for the new extension on Sunday 14 May at 12pm during a community celebration event that is open to all.
