Firbeck Village Hall Refurbishment
Firbeck Village Hall in South Yorkshire, was built in 1971 and although it was maintained over this period the facilities were in desperate need of modernisation.
The project aimed to develop the village hall and provide facilities which better met the needs of the residents and communities in the surrounding villages, including improving the access to DDA standards alongside improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of the building.
The village hall committee originally applied to WREN in February 2009, however this application was declined. Undeterred, the applicants made a fresh application to WREN for £50,000. Having secured almost £300,000 from the Big Lottery fund as well as providing clear evidence of community support and need, the committee were successful in obtaining the maximum grant.
The project involved the following:
- Extension of the hall to incorporate an additional room to improve usage and flexibility for groups using the hall.
- Increase and improvement of the storage facilities.
- Upgrade of the poorly equipped and old fashioned kitchen to modern standards including replacing degraded and unsafe flooring.
- Access improvements to DDA standards through provision of ramps and widened doorways
- Improvements to and modernisation of the toilet facilities including installation of a disabled access toilet.
- Improvements to the lighting, heating and insulation standards to improve energy efficiency and reduce running costs, with the installation of a ground source heat pump.
- Improvements to the exterior of the hall including the replacement of the wood cladding with low maintenance materials which have improved the appearance of the hall to better blend in with neighbouring buildings, many of which are Grade 2 listed.
- Removal of the uneven/unsafe paving and the replacement with landscaped areas including a grassy community area with seating and planting and install a safe exterior play area with fixed equipment with railings and gates.
- Improvements to the car park including provision of disabled spaces and ramps.
The completed project has benefited the community through the provision of an updated and more flexible community space which it is hoped will encourage more and better social interactions for local people as well as opportunities for training, keeping fit and active participation. The provision of an attractive outside area with sitting and play areas will provide more opportunities for social networking.
The new, improved and almost unrecognisable village hall was officially opened by the Earl of Scarborough on the 26th August 2010.