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HINDERWELL VILLAGE HALL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

The new Hinderwell village hall opened for use in October 2004 after an extensive re-building programme.   It is seen as an example of innovative village hall design and best practice.

This is a community-led project, which is meeting an identified community need.  The whole process took nine years from conception to reality, as a result of much persistence and determination. During that time, the Management Trustees attended a number of capacity training courses including Managing a Community Building, Meeting Skills and Marketing and Promotion, which have helped them to run the facility effectively. Even so, the trustees have had a steep learning curve in becoming employers and managing a £550,000 project.  They have successfully met a number of challenges and these learning experiences have sharpened their management effectiveness.

Residents appreciate the extensive range of new learning opportunities, training courses, and recreational activities now available through the re-build, which has a total area of 460m2 of which 349m2 is for non-sports use.  Many new activities are taking place in the new hall which, unlike the old one, has modern, well equipped, purpose-designed facilities. It is being used by a number of different organisations throughout the region.
 
By the end of 2005 the project had assisted one ICT initiative, an environmental initiative and a network.  Six organisations have been assisted and 90 people had accessed ICT.   Business sales of £7,550 have been achieved.

The project requires a 50% average occupancy rate to generate income levels to retain its existing staff complement of 2 P/T Centre Managers and 1 P/T Caretaker, which is a very challenging target.  One volunteer works 10hrs per week in the Community Office (Modern Apprenticeship Scheme work experience). Members of the Management Committee spend time in the hall, allowing residents to access Broadband-enabled ICT and information on job vacancies, available training courses and group activities.

From the outset, sustainable design and planning has been a feature of the project.  The original building was made of wood and asbestos, did not meet current health and safety regulations and provided no access for disabled people.  It was agreed that the new building would be energy-efficient with very good insulation, good day lighting, solar energy and be constructed of materials that do not impact adversely on the environment.  Occupants of the building also receive advice on operational efficiency.  Particular features of the construction included:

• double glazed low E glass in the windows,
• low energy light fittings and door operated switches to stores,
• gas condensing boiler, low surface temperature radiators,
• waterless urinals, rainwater harvesting for watering planted areas,
• roof tiles from a local source, timber from a sustainable source,
• solar panels and photovoltaic sales
• existing tennis pavilion to be recycled for use elsewhere
• crushed hardcore from demolition of disused local authority toilet block used on site.

The project is actively engaged in raising awareness about sustainable energy and environmental good practice.   Details about these are on the website and have been displayed at all events held since January 2004. Such information is included in all newspaper articles, and has been made available to Yorkshire Rural Community Council Members and village hall representatives throughout North Yorkshire.

The project has been supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (£205,500), Community Fund/Big Lottery (£123,000), Sport England (£120,500), the Sustainable Development Fund, awarded by North York Moors National Park (£40,000) the Single Regeneration Budget (£34,100), North Yorkshire County Council (£16,950) and a number of other public sector organisations.

Local Parish Councillor Beryl Christon said,

“The new hall has made an incredible difference to the lives of residents in Hinderwell Pact Area.  We have been able to extend our range of activities and offer new learning opportunities, not just for now, but for many years to come.
Rebuilding the Village Hall, and creating part time employment for local people, would not have been possible without support from the European Regional Development Fund and all our other funders”.

With funding from ERDF, the Delegated Grant Scheme, TSB, Awards for All and Community Champions, HVH has employed a Project Co-ordinator for the Get With I.T. Project.  This is delivering basic level I.T. training at five community venues in Hinderwell and Whitby Pact Areas until December 2006.