Village Hall: Wilton Community Centre, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Problem (max 100 words)
Problem: very old boiler unit needed replacing, ceilings needed to lower and energy efficient lighting installed. Roof needed repairs. Electrical system checked, the whole centre needed redecoration and floors sanded and sealed. Major refurbishment programme necessary.
Analysis (max 600 words)
The Trustees decided to begin a fundraising campaign and this was done by attending workshops set up by WVHA, going to funding seminars and getting information from CIB and Community First and on line. Great help and advice was given by Community First and the WVHA Village Halls Advisor and Landfill Communities Fund Officer. At about the same time we began searching for a suitable Project Manager and checking all possible funding avenues and making applications. Contractors were sought to make a site visit and advise us on costs and energy saving ideas.
Solution (max 600 words)
We could not get an energy survey commissioned, for lots of reasons. Mostly, because our South West Agency offering Government funded free visits had been withdrawn before we applied and we could not find another suitable company to help us. However, we were successful with two grants which got us off to a good start. One from WVHA for £8k and another for £7K from our District Council which gave us the ability to engage a Project Manger. Then we searched for and downloaded information from the internet, and well armed with this information, our Project Manager, together with all the Trustees, walked around our building and we did our own energy audit. At the same time we were able to devise our own programme and timetable of repairs. Once we had decided our priorities, we were able to engage contractors to suggest the best possible energy saving devices for our building. We had three, sometimes four quotes for every aspect of the building and refurbishment projects and the Trustees guided by our Project Manager then made a decision and chose a contractor to fit within our budget. The work began in Summer 2009 and was completed by Spring 2010. The work included new boiler, heating system, lowered ceilings and energy efficient lighting, sealed floors and redecoration. The grants funded some of the work and the rest was found from our own reserves. We still have a few major projects left to complete, such as, improvement of the ramps at the front and rear and entrances, new roof and toilet block. We hope to have the roof repaired in Summer 2010 and at the same time we want to install solar Photo Voltaic Panels. These panels will generate electricity which we can use ourselves and sell the surplus back to the National Grid providing a long term income for the Centre. We will be one the first community buildings to install this new technology and we are currently applying for funding for this project.
Satisfaction (max 200 words)
The outcome of this refurbishment has been to greatly improve our facilities at out Community Centre, which has pleased all our users and has increased the use of the building by other groups. We are currently running at 95 % capacity and everyone is delighted with the new comfortable, clean, warm building. The Centre is the only one of its kind in the area and is proving to be a most valuable resource. Our Trustees, by careful management and good forward planning were able to match fund our grant aid support and we believe this is a good example of what can be achieved for community buildings.