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 Winteringham Village Hall Charity Reg. No. 508402
The Building - Its Origins and Uses
The village hall stands on ground
owned by the Parish Council but the hall itself belongs to the village and the villagers. It was built in 1975 following a number of years fund raising by village residents augmented by a grant from the then
County Borough and Parish Councils. Many of those residents and their children and grandchildren still live in the village along with the many others who supported their efforts.
The hall has been the scene of
many village events over the years. Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations, fetes, fairs, Midsummer Madness, New Year and Bonfire Night fireworks, dances, disco's, the Millennium village get-together and
dozens of parties.
It is regularly used by Winteringham Under 5's, School's Out Club, line dancing, keep fit, dancing lessons,
Women's Institute, Humberside Club (an afternoon of cards and company for retired people), WEA classes, Adult Education craft classes, the Jubilee Committee, Neighbourhood Watch Group, the Social
Club and Bingo. The bingo sessions are run every week of the year by a lady who was one of the original fund raisers and proceeds are donated in turn to the various groups in the village - the hall has been a
recent recipient.
Management
The day to day running is managed by a committee composed of representatives from all the village
organisations and members of the public. Revenue from the user groups pays for the cleaner's wages, utility bills, supplies and minor repairs and maintenance. It also covers insurance for the building and
public liability (this year the bill came to more than £1000) and the replacement of electrical goods.
Self Help
Recently, twelve villagers turned up to help lay a footpath from the car park to the front door of the hall,
needed to comply with the new Disability Discrimination Act. A local person dug the footings free of charge, a local farmer provided all the materials, a tractor and a mixer, buckets and wheelbarrows
appeared from nowhere along with a skilled concrete layer and the job was done in an hour and a half - a real community effort.
The Winners Club is our regular fundraiser, organised and run by a committee member. Participants pay
£12 per year for inclusion in a monthly draw for £100 and an annual prize of £1000 in June. Every house in the village receives an annual reminder about membership.
A member of the committee succeeded in gaining an Awards For All grant from the lottery fund of £4948,
which with £2000 from our own Winners Club will pay for the new windows and doors being installed as we write. The Parish Council have undertaken to pay for the new window and door in the Parish Council Room.
 The Problems
During the last two years two major problems have been
identified. The original wooden single glazed windows were in a dangerous state, having had rotten woodwork replaced on so many occasions that even the repairs had been repaired.
Some of the glass was in danger of falling out. The obvious answer was double glazed replacement windows and doors, which became a priority for fund raising and was accomplished
by grant and village efforts as mentioned above.
The second problem needing attention is the flat roof, beloved
of nineteen seventies architects. Over the years it has needed repairs, patching and partial replacement on numerous occasions. During last winter some serious leaks
developed and the matter has now become an urgent priority.
For some time buckets have been much in evidence on a rainy day, but water is now leaking through in a
number of different places. Today's session of Under Fives had to be cancelled because the floors were flooded. As can be seen from the photographs, the ceiling tiles are now loose. We are worried about the
possibility of the hall having to close.
Mothers in the Under Fives Group are already concerned in case the tiles shown in the picture fall on the
children. In any event, how can we let young children paddle about in conditions that will worsen in the next winter?
Availability of Funds
There is a pressing need for funds. It seems sensible to replace with the best available flat roof system,
which it has been estimated will cost in the region of £10,000.
We are actively seeking grant aid from a number of sources to help towards this cost.
We have started a roof fund with a generous donation from one of the smallest groups in the village-
Neighbourhood Watch- and the proceeds of a recent car-boot sale. The donation from the weekly Bingo group has been added to the fund. Other events are in the pipeline. We hope to enthuse the village with
the same spirit that built the hall and has kept it going for the last thirty years. However, the roof has
deteriorated so rapidly over the last year that we fear it will collapse completely before sufficient funds can be accumulated. £10,000 is a daunting sum for a small community to contemplate. Even successful  efforts to raise this sum could not possibly be completed
before a crisis occurs.
The Appeal
Can you help? ...
Have you got some good ideas for raising money?
Will you join us to give practical help?
Are you willing to make a donation to the roof fund?
Do you know someone who might be able to contribute in some way?
Will you join the Winners Club and become a regular supporter of the hall?
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