The refurbishment of Otterbourne Village Hall can be completed thanks to a £33,970 Biffa Award grant
Otterbourne Village Hall is a very popular facility at the heart of the community. The building offers three suites seating up to 240 people in the largest, which can be hired with a fully serviced bar. All halls have fitted kitchens and car parking is available for all halls. For the last 35 years the halls have been maintained by the funds raised by regular clubs that use the facilities throughout the week, one-off hires for family or community functions at the weekends and fundraising events (award winning pantomimes and summer shows) performed by our drama sub-committee, the Otterbourne Theatre Company.
All three suites have recently undergone a full refurbishment and energy efficiency improvements have been made, including installing more efficient boilers, installing additional insulation and lowering the ceiling of the main hall. We think Terry Revell spent lockdown isolating in the Village Hall, decorating all of the halls and keeping them in top condition, but he has also ensured we were able to pay our bills and keep the hall running, ready to welcome everyone back now restrictions are easing. However, since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the building has been unable to open and therefore expected income which was destined for the toilet refurbishment has fallen.
This means the final phase of the refurbishment project could not go ahead as planned. With the continued support of The Cranbury Foundation, Terry approached the Biffa Award for help in completing this project. A £33,970 grant was awarded which means the refurbishment of the toilets can now go ahead and we’re very pleased to report that work is starting on the ladies toilet in the main hall on the 22nd November. Any lucky ladies with tickets to the next pantomime (Cinderella performances in January 2022) will be amongst the first to benefit from this investment! Tickets can be purchased (for the pantomime, not the toilets!) via our website or facebook page.
Terry Revell, Otterbourne Village Hall General Manager, said: “This Biffa Award grant will allow us to bring our toilets up to date with modern sanitaryware and be in line with the rest of the building which has also now been brought up to a modern standard.”
John Pitman, Chairman of Otterbourne Choir and past Village Hall, added: “The complex has been modernised over the last 12 months, and the toilet refurbishment is the last piece in the puzzle to give our members modern and up to date toilet facilities thanks to Biffa Award.”
Rachel Maidment, Biffa Award Grants Manager, added: “It is so important that we continue to invest in community buildings like Otterbourne Village Hall which provides a space for people to meet and socialise. Supporting the project to upgrade its toilets will ensure that the building has fit for purpose facilities for years to come and complete the final phase of refurbishment.”
A wide variety of community groups and clubs are based at the hall, including bridge, pilates, yoga, choir, children’s keep fit, art and a seniors’ day as well as being used for private parties and social events.
