Improving and Maintaining Facilities to Ensure Sustainability, Wollaston Village Hall

This is a project for replacement windows with an actuator system and to repair a leaking roof at Wollaston Village Hall in Stourbridge.

The hall was closed for almost five years during which time there was no income or maintenance. A lottery grant enabled the hall to meet statutory requirements to open and start earning money, but there are additional problems that need addressing.

The hall windows are four metres from the ground and do not open. This means no ventilation. The project will install an actuator system, so the windows open safely from ground level. The dressing room roof leaks due to poor maintenance and needs replacing. The ceiling is stained and unpleasant for the amateur dramatics volunteers to change in.

The new trustee board and volunteers have worked for two years to re-establish the hall as the centre in the community. There are now regular hirers, and it is becoming a focal point of the area, but lack of maintenance and facilities issues are threatening its sustainability. To continue to be sustainable the trustees need to meet the needs of the people using the hall. The exercise classes, choir and theatre group have all expressed concern about the lack of ventilation and airflow. Leaving the front door open is a security and safeguarding issue. The theatre group are unhappy with the condition of the changing rooms. The roof needs urgent repairs and the condition will only deteriorate if left.

People want to hire an attractive comfortable building, and the concern is that these issues could cause hirers to go elsewhere. The project will help the hall to become an appealing place for a wide range of community activities. Rundown buildings can be a magnet for anti-social behaviour and community safety issues

Environmental considerations: By using natural ventilation, the hall will not be using fans or air conditioning and will not be increasing its carbon footprint. This will ensure that energy costs are not added to, and the new windows will potentially add to the insulation of the hall reducing the need for heating thus saving money as less energy will be used. Consultation with users has indicated that air conditioning would not be popular, due to noise and it can cause problems with respiratory and allergic conditions, the trustees want to be as inclusive as possible. Where possible environmentally friendly materials will be used for all works. Improving the building will help the hall to be an appealing place for a wide range of community activities, contributing to a community place where people can visit to enjoy a wide range of activities.

Hard to reach considerations: Regular events are run where people can just call in such as the Bric a Brac fairs and other one-off events. No charge is made for admission and low-cost refreshments are available. The trustees have been told by many older people that they welcome the opportunity to come and browse and have a warm drink particularly in the winter.