Village hall refurbishment project is completed

A project to refurbish Catworth Village Hall has been completed.

A new entrance lobby, meeting room, store room, and safe play area have been created and a new pair of folding doors that open the meeting room up to the main hall, for larger functions, have also been installed.

The work was carried out by contractors Wisniewski and Jeffries.

The official opening was held on November 10 at 11am during the hall’s annual craft fayre held in conjunction with St Leonard’s Church’s patronal festival.

The patronal festival theme for this year was weddings and marriage and the church was full of wedding dresses.

Catworth Village Hall chairman, Andrew Moore, said: “We are over the moon that the refurbishment project has completed 50 years after the building was secured for the village, and eight years after phase one works to provide new toilets.

“The delivers a first rate building that will enable more village groups to use the hall and increase access to those with mobility difficulties.”

The ribbon was cut by Jonathan Crisp, from firm Amey, which help fund the refurbishment.

The project was financed by fund-raising in the community including a buy-a-brick club, bequests, and grants from WREN’s community action fund of £47,500, and the Amey community fund of £40,000.

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects. The Amey community fund is managed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and is part of a voluntary environmental tax credit scheme called the Landfill communities Fund.

Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s local grant manager, said: “It’s wonderful to see something we have funded finally open and ready to make such a difference in the local area. “WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities, and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”

Further details on the project and the activities in Catworth Village Hall visit www.catworthvillagehall.co.uk.