Unfortunately:

• The main Hall is too small for some activities and unless numbers are limited, the room is too congested for comfort or safety.
• The entrance foyer is too cramped and easily congested, especially at times when access is required simultaneously to toilets, kitchen and when people are queuing to be admitted.
• There is no space to hang clothing in bad weather.
• The toilet facilities are totally inadequate (1 female and 1 male, which is also the disabled toilet)
• The heating system is noisy and inadequate.
• There is a lack of storage facilities for tables, chairs and other property.

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The Refurbishment Project aims to remedy these failings by providing:

• For the retention of the original hall.
• A second, larger, Activity Hall for dance groups, aerobics for the elderly, youth activities, art classes, concerts etc.
• An extension to the building to accommodate toilets (male, female and disabled), kitchen and circulation space, all meeting modern standards.
• First floor storage and committee room facilities with lift access.
• Upgraded heating and lighting

We agreed the design with all the user groups after an extensive consultation exercise and the consideration of a number of alternatives. We believe we will be able to retain the strongest features of the current building whilst bringing the Hall up to 21st century standards and providing for the evolving needs of the community.

Based on what we know as we go to press with this leaflet (mid-September 2005), the cost of building work, excluding furnishings and improvements to the car park and landscaping is just short of £220,000. This is a huge sum for our small community, but even so we have already secured over £207,000 in funding.

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Plans... Amongst the new activities we have been told people would like to see or organise in the refurbished Hall are:

• Establishment of a holiday/musical/other play group.
• Outreach classes from Walford and North Shropshire College
• Outreach clinics, chiropody, etc
• Establishment of classes in painting, drawing and textiles.
• Further folk music
• Music group rehearsals and concerts
• Ladies Quilting group
• Establishment of activities for the disabled, e.g. Kurling etc.
• Establishment of Model Engineering Group
• Establishment of a Village Archive

The Funding Package has the following main components:

Own funds/user groups to date £4,500
Big Lottery Fund £102,380
Defra £70,586
WREN Environmental £30,000

We are now seeking ways to make up the £12,000 shortfall to enable us to move ahead to invite tenders for the work. Our objective is to let the tender by year-end, start work in February 2006 and have completion that autumn.

We have a number of grant applications in place but we do not know whether they will be successful. We also need to fund the re-equipping of the kitchen and the new Activity Hall.

We are now seeking contributions from sympathetic individuals and organisations in addition to the grant applications mentioned above. We hope you will be able to help us with this very worthwhile project.

Please read on for some ideas on how you may be able to help.

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How Can You Help?

As an individual, any donation you can make would be greatly appreciated. We are currently in the process of registering for Gift Aid, so if you are a UK Taxpayer, please ask for more details of how your generosity can be made even more effective.

As a business, , your corporate donation would be equally valued. We would be happy to discuss how we could provide some form of public appreciation of your generosity (a plaque, perhaps).

As an Organisation, . Could the organisation to which you belong make a donation? Does your organisation have reserves not earmarked for a specific purpose, if so, could we become that purpose?

Can’t afford a gift? We understand: not everybody who would like to will be able to. But how about a loan? One of our costs is financing the cash flow problem associated with one of our grants. An interest free loan would certainly be of interest to us. And if you had a substantial sum, it might be cheaper for us to borrow from you than from the Bank!

What to do next?

Email, phone or write to our Hon. Treasurer:
Mrs L.W. Moss
Bwlch-y-Rhiw
Rhydycroesau
Oswestry SY10 7PT

01691 791 528
graham.moss@micro-plus-web.net

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