A new £475,000 fund is set to provide a lifeline for community halls and buildings across rural Flintshire.
The makeover scheme is being masterminded by the rural regeneration agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.
One of the first groups to take advantage of the fund was the Darby and Joan Club in Mold.
They have been able to transform their premises in Grosvenor Road thanks to a major grant from the fund.
It has provided £18,657 for the building, which was falling into disrepair, and it has now been transformed into a bright, spacious and well equipped hall for local people to use.
The building has also been given a new name, Grosvenor Hall, and according to the Chairman – Bryan Morgan, it’s also being used by a number of different community groups.
He said: “Although the Darby and Joan Club still meets at the hall, the premises have been renamed to attract people of all ages to use the hall.
“The building was originally built over 40 years ago but since then, other than essential maintenance, nothing had been done to improve or really maintain it.
“In truth the hall was falling into disrepair and desperately needed upgrading and improving for the community to be able to use it.”
Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution came from the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.
Andrew Redfern, Cadwyn Clwyd Project Officer for the Flintshire Rural Key Fund, said: “The aim of the fund is to improve facilities in the rural area of the county and we have £475,000 to spend, all of which we intend to allocate by the end of this year.
“This represents a major investment in the many rural buildings that play a key role in their local communities and aims to give them and the organisations which use them a new lease of life.
“The added benefit of course is that most of the money will be spent locally with local contractors doing the work and so this gives an added and important extra benefit to the rural economy.”
Cadwyn Clwyd Board Member and Flintshire County Councillor Matt Wright, who is the county’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Halls like this are very much at the heart of their communities and play a really important part in local life.
“Cadwyn Clwyd are doing an excellent job in helping local groups improve their facilities and also in helping the rural economy and local jobs.”
Bryan Morgan added: “A Cadwyn Clwyd grant of £18,657 meant we were able to install new flooring, fit new windows and doors, replace the old toilets and adding a new disabled toilet, a new baby changing facility and putting in a whole new kitchen area.
“In all together with other recent improvements to the hall we have spent more than £100,000 on turning the hall into a warm and welcoming modern well-equipped community facility.
“What we now have is a bright, modern and well equipped community hall fit for purpose and ready for the community to use.”
And according to Bryan the hall now has a growing number of user groups taking advantage of the facilities on offer following the completion of refurbishment works.
He said: “We have an evening dance class, three separate Bridge clubs, a sugar craft group, weight watchers and slimmer’s world groups in addition to the Quakers who use the hall for worship on Sunday mornings as well as the University of the Third Age who also meet at the hall.
“Coleg Harlech also use the facilities for Kindness in Mind meetings. Kindness in Mind is a Flintshire-based charity that provides group work opportunities to women who experience mental health concerns and illnesses.”
And a further Cadwyn Clwyd grant of £2,500 has helped fund a piece of ceramic public art work now on display at the front of the hall.
Bryan said: “Working with Mold Alun High School the art work depicts the Mold Riots. The grant ensured the ceramic display could be completed and put in place for everyone to enjoy at the front of Grosvenor Hall.
“We are extremely grateful to Cadwyn Clwyd for their support along with the other funding bodies who helped us including the Big Lottery Fund, Flintshire Voluntary Council and Mold Town Council.
“It has taken two years to complete the work but it has been so worthwhile. We now have a facility the whole community can take pride in and use for meetings and group activities.”
Cadwyn Clwyd continues to look for innovative projects to support which help safeguard the area’s natural, cultural and heritage assets and maximise their economic potential for local businesses and communities.
To find out more or share your idea for a project call 01824 705802 or email [email protected]. For information on Grosvenor Hall contact Bryan Morgan on 01352 750440.
