NEW ROOF FOR CENTRE HALL

THE HALL AS IT IS NOW WITH TIN ROOF...

The Ockment Centre has received the good news that they have succesfully secured a grant for their Hall Refurbishment Project. The Pennon Environmental Fund through Viridor Credits have agreed to support the project up to the value of £19,800 with the rest made up from community fundraising. This money will be used to replace the old tin roof on the detached Hall at the end of the garden with insulated cladding and replace four windows and the double doors with double glazed units.

The work is taking place so that all the community activities and local family events can enjoy a warmer and more energy efficient hall that will be suitable for a wider range of uses in the future.

Jenny Hopkins of the Ockment Team, said, "we started raising money for the project two years ago as the hall windows were rotting and with an old tin roof and a noisy, insufficient heating system, it is very hard to get it warm enough for groups in the Winter. By holding community events such as Table Top Sales, Coffee Mornings, Cream Teas, Quiz Nights, Easter and Craft Fayres over £3500 has been raised by the local community towards new windows. We have already been able to replace four large windows last year with double glazed units thanks to fundraising alongside a small grant from the Bernard Sunley Foundation - now we are in a position to complete the first stage of the refurbishment. So a huge thanks goes out to everyone who has supported the centre by attending fundraising events, or writing letters of support for our bid.

We are thrilled that the Pennon Environmental Fund and Viridor Credits could see what a positive impact the new hall roof and windows will have on the centre and the community who use it and we would like to thank them for choosing to support the biggest part of this project".

The Ockment Trustees and staff team are keen to get the work underway. Okehampton Glass and builders Jeffery & Pengelly are lined up to complete as much of the work as possible in the Easter Holidays. Any groups that currently run in the hall will be found an alternative room in the centre main building whilst the work takes place.