Widecombe Community Hall - Update and Forthcoming Dinner & Dance Fundraising Event
Yvette Elliot gives us an update on the Community Hall, and tells us about this Summer's fundraiser event.
A year ago, we were largely a fundraising operation, with volunteers continuing site preparation on Hayes Field. Today there is a building you can walk into and stand inside.
The shift came last autumn with a grant from Teignbridge District Council and DEFRA — tied to delivering a watertight shell by the 16th of March. Our contractors, Duraform Homes, started on site on the 17th of November and, through a hard Dartmoor winter, hit every deadline. Floor slab cast before Christmas, reinforced concrete walls, steel roof trusses, triple-glazed windows, watertight on time.
That was only possible because the fundraising team kept delivering alongside the construction. The Bernard Sunley Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Awards for All, the Elmgrant Trust, Widecombe Fair, Widecombe Parish Council, plus generous local donations and loans, have all kept the project moving — and extended Duraform's contract beyond the original scope.
Since then we’ve confirmed an additional contract for a permanent roof covering – a profiled steel, ‘standing seam’ finish in dark grey to match surrounding slate roofs. This has matching soffits and fascias and has roof lights fitted. We’ve also been able to fit ceiling insulation inside the main hall.
Over £500,000 has been raised to date with the bulk of that generously donated from local people. This is incredible and a testament to the hard work of the Trustees and the support of Widecombe residents to achieve a community building fit for the future.
Approximately £250,000 more is needed to complete the hall & open the doors. Work to complete includes external finishes, internal fit-out, and landscaping works. To achieve this, major grant applications continue and more local events are planned.
Our Mid-Summer Dinner, Dance and Charity Auction
is on Friday the 26th of June at the Lavender House Hotel in Ashburton — Russell Steer is hosting the auction; there will be great music from Go Tell Alice and a delicious three-course meal.
Auction lots include local AirBnB and hotel stays, lunch and dinner vouchers, logs, sauna sessions, cakes and signed children’s books.
Tickets are available via our website or direct from Chris Mayhead (chrismayhead@gmail.com) for £36 per person.
By way of reminder, this community building has been designed using local feedback from the original feasibility study - prioritising accessibility, comfort, environmental credentials, easy maintenance and flexibility of space to allow for a multitude of uses such as the pre-school, large functions including wedding receptions, indoor sports, music events, meetings, fitness classes, a new youth club and no doubt plenty more things that we haven't even thought of yet!
As soon as it's safe to do so, we want to invite everyone onto the site so you can see what's been achieved for yourselves. We can’t wait to welcome you into YOUR community building.
You can follow us on our website - www.widecombecommunityhall.org, or on facebook - www.facebook.com/widecombecommunityhall