Following an award of £250,000 capital grant funding under the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, the Chittlehampton Village Hall Trustees were delighted to welcome to the hall Minister Jacob Young, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, accompanied by Selaine Saxby MP and Simon Booth, the DLUHC Grant Manager, on Thursday 25th January.

After explaining the plans to the Minister he was given a conducted tour of the 70 year old building and saw how the money would be spent and the extent of the renovations that would be made, including replacing the old asbestos roof, externally cladding the walls, providing insulation all round and installing multi-glazed external doors and windows. The Minister was impressed by the plans and appreciated how the building would be made both weatherproof and warmer. He praised ‘the important work in protecting this community asset’ He said ‘ I wish you all the best in your fund-raising activities’. 

Chairman Peter Bradshaw said that it was important for the Minister to understand the extent of the work involved and it was pleasing to see him on board with the project. He was also lobbied for the Trustees to be able to claim back the VAT element of the building costs.

Peter said ‘this visit will give added impetus to our fund-raising, because we need £50,000 matched funding by June to secure the Government grant, and will give a boost to our crowdfunding campaign’.  

For those who would like to support us, the link to the Village Hall’s crowdfunding page is www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/cvh-renovation