SANDLEHEATH Village Hall has opened its doors and is welcoming the community to take a look at the transformation which is now complete.

The grand opening ceremony takes place today (Saturday July 24) with food, drink, music and entertainment, to which the whole village has been invited. 

It runs from 2pm until 7.30pm. 

In late 2018, the trustees of a small, local charity took out a 25-year lease on the St Aldhelm’s church building in the village.

The structure was redundant and dilapidated, but the village hall trustees were determined to transform it into a contemporary village hall.

Two and a half years later, and thanks to many generous grants and contributions, the trustees have raised some £200,000 to make the refurbishment plan possible.

The sum includes £11,000 generously donated by members of the Sandleheath community.

The works programme, which largely employed local companies, is now complete. 

An opening ceremony was held yesterday with invited guests coming together to celebrate the milestone for the village hall. 

The Sandleheath Village Hall Refurbishment Programme has received grants from a number of organisations, trusts and foundations, and from the Government Village Hall Improvement Grant, the New Forest District Council, the Hampshire County Council’s Rural Communities Fund and County Councillor’s Grant, and The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation.

Other grants have been obtained from: The Veolia Foundation, The TH Russell Trust, The Bernard Sunley Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation and The National Lottery Grants for Good.

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