Village Hall

Village Hall Improvements

On Friday 21 June various Village Hall Committee members and representatives of Hall user groups came together with a "Man and a Van" from Sherborne Skip Hire to have a clear out of the Hall. Two and a half hours and one very full 7-ton truck later the Hall felt as if it could breathe again! "Stuff" that had collected for many years under the stage, in cupboards and in the two loft spaces was either found a new home or sent on its way. The Hall is now ready to have a new roof put on at the front, over the toilets and utility area and will have new cupboards made and fitted in both the Committee Room and the back storeroom. It is hoped that these improvements will prevent the damp that has been occurring particularly in the disabled and gents’ loos and will improve the Hall's environmental credentials with insulation being installed under the roof in the front section of the Hall. These improvements have been made possible with the funding for the use of the Hall as a Rural Family Hub, which it is hoped will also draw in additional users over the next couple of years.

Update from Buckland Newton Village Hall

Over the last year the Village Hall Committee secured funding from Dorset Council to establish the Hall as Dorset's first (and still currently only) Rural Family Hub. This funding has helped secure the hall's finances for a year and provided the Toddler Group with free use of the Hall on a Wednesday, and free space for after school activities also on a Wednesday which have been funded by another grant from the Local Alliance Group (LAG). The Hall’s Family Hub status has allowed it to secure additional funding to provide the new counter and cupboard space in the Committee Room, a freezer, cupboards/storage space in the back room and beanbags for the Youth Club. The Committee's vision is to establish a community resource at the Hall, that can be used by people when they hire the Hall. To this end the Committee has received a small grant from Dorset Community Foundation to provide a new, bigger shed that will house not only the Toddler Group's equipment but Table Tennis Tables, Pickleball, Darts Boards and a small indoor crazy golf course, and which should be in place by the end of July. A grant from Dorset National Landscapes in 2024 allowed not only for the provision of free art classes for children, young people and families but also for the creation of a huge art cupboard of resources that can be used by the wider community should anyone wish to use it when hiring the hall. The Hall's next step is to work with Low Carbon Dorset to explore ways of becoming more energy efficient and find a grant that will enable the Hall to have solar panels in order to provide its electricity needs. However, the Hall needs the support of the community too. Could you plan and hold an event at the Hall? Bring some friends together for a game of Pickleball or Darts? Hold a party? Run a class for others? Use the Hall for a Business meeting or Conference? There are lots of ways in which the Hall could be used and the Committee will do its best to support any ideas, so do please use your village hall and show your support for this incredible community asset.

Village Hall Notice

The Village Hall is extremely grateful to everyone who takes away the tea towels to wash after using the kitchen in the Hall, but please can user groups remember to return them. Several sets of 12 tea towels have been bought and donated in the last year alone and yet there are regularly only two or three clean tea towels to be found for users in the drawer.

Bookings

To hire either the whole Hall or the Committee Room, please read our Privacy Policy, the Conditions of Hire and Health and Safety Policy and then contact the Bookings Secretary on 01300 345455 or e-mail bnvillagehall@gmail.com Please mention 'Hall booking' in e-mail subject Please note that additional Conditions are now included in the Conditions of Hire to cover Covid-19 precautions: Covid Guidelines for Village Hall Users Please bring these to the attention of all attendees at your meeting/function. Safeguarding Policy Buckland Newton Village Hall takes its responsibilities surrounding the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults who may be at risk very seriously, and has a Safeguarding Policy. If you have any Safeguarding questions or concerns, please contact the nominated Safeguarding Member e-mail parishkate0@googlemail.com

Buckland Newton Village Hall (Charity No. 282290)

Redesigned in 2000 and rebuilt to a high standard, Buckland Newton's Village Hall

is the ideal venue for your group's meetings, functions or shows. It's also the

perfect surroundings for private parties, wedding receptions or birthday

celebrations.

The Village Hall is adjacent to the Piddletrenthide to Sturminster Newton

road (B3143) and has car parking. Postcode DT2 7BZ, Grid Reference ST

69363 05198. The Village Hall is approximately 150 yards south (towards

Dorchester) of the Parish Field / primary school crossroads, and 200 yards

north (towards Pulham and Sturminster Newton) of the Old Chapel Stores.

The main hall is light and spacious with large areas of glass in both roof and south-

facing elevations, giving a very pleasant and well-lit environment. In fine weather

double doors can be opened onto the attractive sheltered and covered patio.

The provision of both overhead and adjustable wall lighting provides the ideal

ambience for all occasions. There is a well-proportioned stage, with lighting and a

sound system may be available for hire. The main hall also has a sprung maple

floor, making it ideal for dances and keep-fit.

The Hall comprises the Main Hall, a Committee Room, Kitchen and Toilets

(including disabled access). The Main Hall and the Committee Room may be hired

separately or as a whole.

All heating costs are included in the hire charges. The Hall may be hired by the

session or for a whole day. The Hall is a No Smoking area.

The Main Hall

The Main Hall measures approximately 11.5 metres by 8.5 metres (37 feet by 27

feet). There is a 6 metre by 3 metre (20' x 10') Stage, equipped with a lighting bar

and sound system. A cloakroom/bar area at the back of the hall can be separated

from the main hall by a roller shutter. The lighting may be dimmed as required and

the rooflights are fitted with roller blinds.

The Main Hall will accommodate approximately 130 people seated in auditorium

style, or a maximum of 100 seated at tables.

The Kitchen is fully equipped with oven and hob, refrigerator and microwave and

adjoins the Main Hall via a shutter and serving area.

The Committee Room

For smaller meetings, the Committee Room (measuring 6 metres by 3.5 metres -

20' x 11') will accommodate 20 people. This part of the Hall has just been

refurbished to a very high standard and is perfect for smaller meetings or events.

There is direct access to the kitchen.