It is some time since the Millennium questionnaire was circulated and the results announced, with improvements to our Village Hall receiving the most support. The Village Hall Management Committee has been working hard since then, asking all user groups to tell them their wishes and needs, so that we can devise a scheme that is workable, affordable, and will greatly improve the facilities for everyone.

With the help of the Architect’s Department at Daventry District Council, and after much consultation, further consultation, and yet more consultation, a final plan has been drawn up that will now go forward to obtain the necessary planning permission. We think it’s a really good scheme, and will bring great benefits to all the Hall users (which must be practically everyone at some stage!) well into the 21st century.

• A new toilet for the disabled and improved disabled access
• A larger, squarer, more useable main hall
• A further meeting room
• New toilet and kitchen facilities, and a separate bar.
• More storage
• A new heating system

The basic plan will cost approximately £400,000, but we will need more for fittings, furniture, and landscape improvements to the car park. We need to obtain a grant if the scheme is to proceed: this usually covers 80 – 90% of the total cost. It leaves us having to raise approximately £40,000 - £80,000. This is obviously a large sum of money, but we should be able to obtain what is called ‘partnership funding’ from other grant making bodies to help us towards this target.

The GOOD NEWS is that we already have over £8000 towards this project – including a GIFT AID donation of £5000 from a Braunston resident (which meant we could claim a further £1400 from the Inland Revenue,) and Julia Beattie staged a Show with her dancers and raised over £500.00 for us. Thanks are due to them both for getting us off to such a great start. We are now making plans to stage a number of fund-raising events throughout next year and details will be announced soon.

• If you want to make a donation towards the project, this will be very welcome.
• If you want to hold a fund raising event yourself, please do so.
• If you want to help us in raising funds, or can suggest who we could approach for sponsorship, then please let us know.
• If you have a skill we can use, contact us. (We’d love to hear from any residents who are structural engineers, quantity surveyors, solicitors, kitchen designers, architects, etc. who are willing to donate some time to assist us!!)

You can contact me, Lynne Whyte, Chairman of the Village Hall committee on (01788) 890865 if you want any further information or wish to help. Anyone who wishes to donate money, anonymously or otherwise, can send it to Wendy Wilson, our Treasurer, at 5 The Green, Braunston. Please make any cheques payable to Braunston Memorial Hall. Wendy can also tell you about donations through the GIFT AID scheme.

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