Joy as village hall is given cash to fix roof

The Victory Hall in Warsash Road, Warsash, has received the funding from Hampshire County Council’s Community Buildings Capital Fund.

The cashpot allows community groups to apply for money for various projects throughout communities in Hampshire.

The hall needs around £200,000 to fix the roof and improve the heating system.

The Victory Hall managing committee is providing £10,000 and has applied for a further £40,000 from Fareham Borough Council.

David Bevis, vice-chairman of the committee, said: ‘I was pleased and relieved. We haven’t got the funds ourselves to do this work. If they put a new roof on, it will last at least 20 years.

‘Lots of charities like us are in the same situation. We have got reserve funds but nowhere near those figures.

‘We have about 1,500 people in there a week so it’s well used. It would be a tragedy if we lost it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s an important bit of work.’

Mr Bevis said the centre is an important asset and it is used for a variety of different events including health classes, concerts and lunches for the elderly.

He said: ‘We have got a lot of elderly people that live in the area.

‘It’s something that a lot of people can walk to. It’s the hub of the community.’

As reported in The News, Rowner Community Trust has been given £141,000 to regenerate the Nimrod Community Centre in Gosport.

The centre provides a range of community facilities and activities including a scheme to help residents access NHS services and the local Job Centre Plus.

The funding will be used to move the entrance of the building, improve the reception area, create a new training room and turn the office into a community meeting room and accessible IT suite. Additional funding has been provided by Gosport Borough Council.

The Community Buildings Capital Fund supports capital-based projects, including refurbishment and improvement of community centres.