Summary of 1st meeting held by Village Hall Fund raising Sub Committee

Present: Violet Currie, Alison Sharpe Steve Thorpe and Lorna Budge.

We looked at why we needed a new back room.
• It would provide a smaller/ additional meeting room. Would be able to run 2 functions at the same time.
• It would be a self contained room with patio doors going out into the garden and the possibility of a new disabled toilet.
• A new quality room would encourage more groups to use it.
• It would provide a supper room for user groups. I.e. W.I. Bowls Club etc.
• Coffee Mornings could be catered for in this room whilst the main Hall was being used for displays, table top sales etc.
• It will have direct access to a secure fenced garden, suitable for children’s parties, BBQs, garden parties etc.
• Pensioners club was suggested would be a light room with great views across the countryside, and access to the garden. Good place to get together.
• Suitable environment for minority groups with a variety of disabilities, and would make it inclusive for every member of our Community.
• Educational Facility.
• Dressing room for Theatre Groups, School, Choir etc using the Main Hall for a production.
• It will be environmentally friendly, cutting down on heating costs.
• Village Hall is the only meeting room in the Village.

The group thought it would be a good idea to ask our user groups what they feel would be the advantage of a new back room. This would help us when we are applying for grants. A letter to be passed to the main user groups was drawn up and this will be distributed accordingly.
We discussed the distribution of a letter to all residents in the Parish asking for any donations they could make towards the project. We decided that April/May would be a good time for this when everyone has recovered from Christmas expense! We also acknowledged the fact that in the present economic climate it may be difficult to raise funds this way.
The group decided to explore the possibility of larger donations from other landowners within the Parish. We will consider how best to approach this issue.
Alison suggested we spoke to Jeff Watson and Maureen Middlemiss, who runs the drop in centre in Amble, they have made many successful grant bids.
Alison will also speak to the Gazette and see if we can get some publicity for project.
We will take photographs of the old room so that we can show the need for rebuilding.
Next Meeting TBA when replies to letters received.