Funding Go-ahead!

 

All the efforts to refurbish Horden’s 100 year old Community Hall have been rewarded with half a million pounds of Big Lottery funding, marking another step in the regeneration of Horden and East Durham.

 

Two years of hard work have finally paid off with a successful application to the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund for £469,779 confirmed today. The decision follows dedicated efforts from local people determined to save and sustain the building (which sits behind St Mary's Church on Blackhill's Road) for the benefit of Horden and East Durham. 

 

Those who have driven the project forward include members of St Mary’s Church which owns the building, Horden Colliery Residents Association, Accent Foundation, Accent Regeneration, East Durham Trust and many of the individuals/groups which use the Hall including representatives of the Jazz Band, Youth Café and Food Co-op to name some. In addition, a team of building professionals have provided the expertise and experience to produce detailed plans and drawings which meet the needs of those who use the building following months of consultation.

The £469,779 follows £32,620 awarded by the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities earlier this year to appoint the building professionals and surveyors needed to fully refurbish the building with new rooms, heating, lighting, carparking, first floor, lift, signage, modern equipment and structural repairs which will see the 100 year old building have a long-term future as a ‘centre for regeneration’ in one of Horden’s most deprived neighbourhoods. 
 

The refurbished building will be open and available to the wider community and surrounding area. The project plans to work closely with neighbouring venues to make sure services complement each other for the benefit of local people where deprivation, worklessness and community safety are key priorities.
 

New training rooms, a fitness suite, internet café and a resource hub will be created to offer residents activities and services which delivers an approach to neighbourhood management to get service providers and users working more closely together.

 

Local people have suggested what they want to see in the building which includes access to housing services, contact with police, employability support including business start-up, healthy living activities alongside bingo, dominoes, coffee mornings and all the activities which has made the building a much loved community hall over many years.

 

Trained volunteers will be key to managing and developing the centre. The project’s business plan sets out how the building will be run in the years to come with the aim of helping people ‘realise their potential’ as its mission.
 

With planning permission granted and most of the funding in place, work is due to start next spring with doors to be opened in late 2013.

 

The building will be leased from St Mary’s Church to a new charity and managed by a group of trustees made up of residents and community representatives.

 

In recognition of the Hall’s 100 year history it is proposed to rename the building, the Horden Centennial Centre (HCC). People can follow the building project progress here on this BLOG.

 

The group will be announcing details of celebration events next month which will give residents and other community venues an opportunity to get involved and have an input.

 

Much fundraising is still to be done including money needed for insurances, licences and other running costs.  If you can make a donation or get involved either as a volunteer or member of the new management please get in touch.

 

The good news follows ongoing investment in Horden, including several million pounds currently being spent to improve housing, new apprenticeships and plans for a railway station.