A LONG-term project to improve safety at the Penybont and District Community Centre can now be completed after it received £25,000 in funding.
The centre’s management committee said it was delighted with the money it has received from the Welsh Government Community Facilities fund. Together with the £10,000 it received from the National Lottery Awards for All fund in September, centre volunteers can now proceed with their long-planned project to replace the fire exit disabled ramp and steps which will enable a much safer, swifter exit for all from the hall in an emergency situation.
With the support of regular hall users and Penybont and District Community Council, as well as permission from the Severn Arms pub in the village, the new ramp will provide a long, gentle slope to allow wheelchair users, small children and those pushing prams and buggies to exit the hall safely, while two sets of shallow steps will enable the visually impaired as well as anyone with mobility issues to exit confidently.
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Committee chair Rhian Duggan thanked secretary Christine Haslock for her hard work and persistence in securing the funding for the project and thanked everyone who has been involved to date.
“It has been an effort to make sure all the supporting documents have been in place to satisfy the funders and I am relieved that we have the money at last,” she said.
“I'd like to thank Louise Hardwick and Toni Borgia at PAVO for looking over our grant applications for us and for all their advice and support with finding funders.”
Builder JA Morgan hopes to start work on site in mid-January 2024 and the project will be completed by the end of March.
This project has been planned for some time and with the support of Penybont and District Community Council, regular user groups of the village hall, especially the local history group, the Short Mat Bowls Club and the Coffee and Company group, the committee is grateful that the latest cash injection will see the work finalised.
Several well-attended events have taken place at the hall recently, including Penybont United Football Club's bingo evening and a Christmas craft fayre with stalls selling everything from jewellery and hand-knitted garments to greeting cards and Christmas wreaths.
Coming up before Christmas is the annual Carols around the Christmas Tree outside the village hall on Saturday, December 23, at 6pm, while just after Christmas the Charities Group Children's Christmas Tea Party takes place on December 28, between 3-5pm. A whist drive will be held on December 29, doors open at 7pm.
Other regular activities include the monthly Coffee and Company coffee morning from 10.30am to midday on December 18, with Esme Morris' relaxed exercise class between 11am-midday on December 14 and 21.
Regular jive class will be starting for beginners on January 11 between 7.30-8.30pm.
To book Penybont Village Hall for your own activity or event, contact booking secretary Luan Price on 07931 462550.
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