Cowling Village Hall

APRIL 2012

Invitations to tender for the completion work to the new hall have already gone out to a number of building contractors. The deadline for their response is April 13^th. It will then be possible to assess the offers received and decide who and when to appoint.

It feels odd serving on a village hall committee when, through this bridge period, there is no village hall. But as progress is made the work does not diminish. It is a challenge to look to the future and plan for the unknown. It is a challenge to raise funds without a base to work from. But one thing is clear – if the goal is to be reached a great variety of skills are required.

For example, when putting in our bids to a wide variety of Charitable Trusts seeking financial help, we find they like to see specially targeted projects aiming to help different sections of the community – children, young people, the elderly, the disabled, each requiring use of the new hall. Who has the ideas? Please use your imagination and come and share your thoughts with us.

Then we need those able to convert ideas into reality – the computer literate, those with the time and patience to fill in application forms, liaison with the people that matter.

The Committee has managed to run a series of events, even without a hall. Each event needs advertising, the creation and distribution of posters and leaflets, and then staffing, sometimes requiring those good with the elderly, sometimes with children and youngsters. Can you help?

Saturday, April 28^th. We have booked Skipton Town Hall once more to provide a café in the annexe between 8.30a.m. and 4.00p.m., while the craft fair takes place in the main hall.

Can you offer help for a session on that day? Last year this event raised £1300 – can we beat that?

Saturday, May 26^th. The annual duck race will again take place, with the kind permission of Mrs.Metcalf and family. Never mind the ducks, the barbeque and sideshows all need staffing. Can you help?

Monday, April 16^th. at 7.30p.m. is the date for our next monthly regular meeting.

Monday, May 21^st. The Management Committee’s Annual General Meeting takes place at 7.30p.m. in St.Andrew’s Bancroft Room. The opening of the new hall will demand special skills to promote the widest variety of activity and establish strong management practices that will endure into the future. The hall now and into the future belongs to the whole village. Come and help us make it the heart of our community.

Our appeal is for offers of help in any capacity or at any event. Please contact : Richard Price, chair (637699), Glen Salt, vice-chair (631776), Anne Pearson, secretary (635612), Lindsay Robinson, treasurer (637630) or any member of the committee.

January 2012

OLD VILLAGE HALL SOLD AT THE END OF 2011

The old village hall has now been sold and the money from the sale will be added to the money kindly donated by the Parish Council, and the current external funding bids. Once the competitive quotations have been received the Village Hall Management Committee will be able to advise what additional funding will be required for the completion. After many years Cowling is now just a few steps away from an exciting new Village Hall. With a little fund-raising help from everyone in the village the building could be completed very soon. The architect and quantity surveyor are now finalising the contract documents ready to invite builders to quote for the completion works. These works include a commercial specification kitchen, to provide for all manner of functions; efficient underfloor heating throughout and high levels of insulation, ensuring the Hall will be a warm and welcoming facility that will meet the Government’s low-carbon targets.
In addition to the main hall, which will accommodate activities ranging from badminton and shows, to birthday parties, there will be a range of multi-function meeting rooms and a playgroup with an external soft-play area.

Any person expressing an interest in tendering for this work, please fill in a questionnaire available after 23rd January 2012 from this website www.cowlingvillagehall.co.uk and return the completed questionnaire before Friday 10th February 2012 to suggestions@cowlingvillagehall.co.uk or by post to: Planet Architecture Ltd, Mill Cottage, Ickornshaw, Cowling, Keighley BD22 0DB

11th November 2011

The old village hall has been sold, SUBJECT TO CONTRACT.

When the deadline for the receipt of tenders for the purchase of the old hall was reached on September 30th, an offer was recieved by the Estate Agents that the Management Committee felt able to accept. As part of the purchase process the Charity Commission, now the Official Custodian for the property, require an independent surveyor’s assessment of the deal. If this is positive the sale should be completed within a few weeks.

For a few months the village will be without a village hall. But the cash received from the sale will be a major boost to the funds required for completion of the new hall. Still more is required, but it does enable our Project Manager, Mik Widdup, to plan the completion with more certainty.

Most funding has to be anticipated through applications to Charity Funders, but local fundraising has to continue apace to convince funders that the village is serious and determined to finish the task.

Richard Price, Chair

9th July 2011

GREAT NEWS AT LAST!

The new village hall has now been transferred into the ownership of the residents of Cowling.

Since the public consultation meeting of villagers voted for this last September there has been endless frustration.   The Management Committee are particularly grateful to our District Councillor, Ady Green, for his help in achieving this result.

The hall is of course unfinished.   The hard task now is to raise the funds needed to complete the internal finishes.

We realise that this comes at a time when both the Recreation Ground Trustees and the Parish Church are appealing for village generosity for much needed work.  We realise also this is a time of recession.   There was never a greater need for village unity and cooperation to achieve these goals for the benefit of the whole community.      We trust every villager who values our community can now put the past behind them and rise to the challenge.

The Village Hall Management Committee’s next meeting is on Monday, July 18th. at 7.30p.m. in the old village hall.  This is an open meeting.   Please come and find out more.

Richard Price,    Chair

Annual General Meeting

Monday, May 16^th. 7.30p.m.

Like most village halls, Cowling’s hall is governed by a Scheme drawn up by the Charity Commission. It lays down as follows:-

6 (3) The term of office of all members will end at the end of the annual general meeting following the date on which they came into office. They may be re-elected or appointed.

The Scheme allows for just 4 elected or foundation members elected at the AGM. All the remainder are appointed by those organisations “listed in Part 1 of the Schedule”.

Every organisation of whatever sort in the village is invited to appoint a representative and be “listed in the schedule”, whether planning to use the village hall or not. Naturally it is expected that those using the hall most will have most input into its management.

This year our AGM is critical. Focus will be on the new hall. The task will be to get it right for the benefit of villagers for years to come. It will not be easy. Money will be limited. A host of new regulations have to be observed. Storage space will be limited. The aim will always be for the best quality possible.

Recently 9 very different organisations in the village showed interest in using the new hall. We hope, as they search for their own representative on the committee, they will find one who will contribute to needs of all users and not just their own organisation. Special talents will be required. The committee has been served in recent years by a panel of advisors well qualified in the tasks required. Their input and that of others will be more valuable than ever in the coming months.

This is an open meeting. Please book the date now and be there!

The Old Village Hall

There is no knowing how soon a suitable buyer will be found. We hope the end of April (see footnote below) deadline for private tender will concentrate the minds of potential buyers We are pleased to report that the building passed inspection for continued use by the North Yorks. “Landlord”. Anyone wanting to hire rooms in the hall don’t be shy to ask!

Three months after the frost damage, dehumidifiers are still drawing water from the void between the upstairs floor and the downstairs ceiling, so the upper hall, as I write, is still out of use.

Final Reminder Sat.May 7^th. Skipton Town Hall. Please help the village effort!

Richard Price – Chairman

Post Publication Note – 30th March

This article was written for and submitted to April’s Cowling News, the local free newsletter delivered to houses in the parish. The article appears in Cowling News as well as here.

Subsequent to the article being submitted for publication, the VHMC decided to defer the start of the fixed period for tenders in relation to the old village hall. The end of April deadline quoted above no longer applies. More details will be published as they become available.