Congerstone Village hall is and important community resource and is in urgent need of renovation.  The hall consists of a very old red brick barn which is of historical interest and requires complete renovation, and a old prefabricated concrete extension which needs to be replaced. Our aim is to raise in excess of £300,000 through fund raising and grants to provide a new hall that will be environmentally friendly and able to serve our community for generations to come.

Regular updates will be posted on this page. If anyone has any questions, suggestions or would like to offer help or a donation please contact me at:

renovations@congerstonevillagehall.co.uk  –   07507 507567

Serena (Shez) Musgrove (Project Manager)

Current News Update

Monday 11th March

The planning application has been submitted! It is supported by the Conservation Officer and we hope will be approved soon. A survey of the building has confirmed that the roof of the red brick barn will need to be replaced.

Our application to the National Lottery Community Fund for a grant has passed the first stage. This means that £100,000 of funds have been pre-approved provided that we are able to meet all the grant criteria going forward.  We may be able to obtain more if we can meet additional criteria such as environmental standards.

Now that we have first approval from the main grant we are actively assessing, and will be applying for, other grants to help us to reach a renovation fund sufficient to cover the sums required. Meetings are taking place with the Architect to find ways to keep costs down.

One of the ways we will be able to reduce costs is for local people to assist with activities such as initial demolition of the rear extension or painting the interior. WATCH THIS SPACE – WE WILL NEED YOU!

Times scales are still uncertain both for reaching our funding requirement and getting builders who are available to do the work. We hope we can start work in spring 2025.

The fund raising activities have now raised a total of £8166.37. We have a full calendar of events for the rest of 2024. Please both support these events. 

We are always looking for volunteers to help. If you can spare any time to assist with any of the events please let me know. If not donations to the renovation fund, raffle prizes or simply spreading the work about what we are doing is all very helpful.

Sunday 4th February

Many thanks to Linda Chevell for a great day at the fabric pots workshop and for raising £400. The planning application is almost ready for submission. The main National Lottery Community Fund grant application has been submitted and conversations have started with the grant office assigned to our application.

The committee are now at work on a fundraising events calendar for 2024 - watch this space.

Sunday 31st December

It has been a very busy few months and I am thrilled to report that we have now raised over £6000. The final funds of the year being raised by Vicky Lear and her daughter Rowan at the Art competition on 23rd December raising £64. A big thank you as well to The Coffee Morning ladies for raising £150 from their Christmas raffle.

Work has started on the main grant application and the planning application should be ready early in the new year.

Work has also started on a full and varied fund raising calendar for 2024. Thanks to Linda Chevell for kicking off the year with Crafting Fabric Pots on 20th January.

We very much need more volunteers to run or assist with fund raising events. If you could spare some time to help please email renovations@congerstonevillagehall.co.uk.

Watch this space for news of the events to come.

Friday 24th November



Fund raising events have continued ensuring we will have raised almost £6000 by Christmas. The second village hall meeting was well attended. We were pleased to be able to present the architect designs for the renovations, which are now on display in the hall. A meeting with the local conservation officer was very positive about the designs so it is now full steam ahead to apply for planning and grants.

Tuesday 24th October

We are pleased to announce that we have been successful in securing the Community Fund Grant to enable us to appoint an architect and do the work to get planning permission.

Fundraising has continued with huge thanks to Lynn MacIsaac for her wonderful crafting events, and to John Matthews and Mike Foley for their local history talks.

Thanks also to those of you who have entered the Lottery 200 or signed up to Easy Fundraising. If you haven't done so please get involved with both.

In total over the summer we have now raised nearly £4000.

Fundraising will continue with move events in the run up to christmas - details can be found HERE. A calendar of events for the first quarter of 2024 will be published soon.

Sunday 27th August

Fund raising has continued with a number of events including two highly enjoyable craft events run by Lynn MacIsaac, The first, a macrame leaves workshop raised £177.01 with the second, Shibori tie die raising £110.82. Lynn is running more events, they have limited numbers so make sure you book early. A huge thank you to Lynn.

 All the fund raising events can be found on our dedicated website HERE

The Summer Barbeque was a great success. Thank you to all of those who came and those who helped to make it such an enjoyable day. The total raised from the barbecue was £887.

The administrative tasks needed to gain access to grants are now complete, Including a new bank account dedicated to the village hall. 

We are hoping to have draft plans for the renovations to share at the Village Meeting planned for the 24th October. Do come along. 

The first draw for the Lottery 200 will be next Friday so make sure you have your ticket and dont forget to sign up for Easyfundraising - it costs you nothing and is already adding nicely to the fund.

Previous News Updates

Monday 10th April

The fund raising has started. If you shop online you can help.

We’re now registered with easyfundraising, which means you can help us for FREE. Over 7,000 brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to you! All you need to do is sign up and remember to use easyfundraising whenever you shop online. It’s easy and completely FREE! These donations really mount up, so please sign up to support us  HERE

March 24th Update

Meetings have been held with the Conservation Planning Officer, Architects and other professional services.  This has enabled us to obtain quotes for the first stage of the project. That is to get all the work done required to get planning approval.

This work will cost approximately £10,000.  A grant application has been submitted to ‘The National Lottery Grants For All Fund’ for the funding required to do this work.  We are now waiting for a response which should be forthcoming by the end of May.

Once we have the funds to proceed with architects, we hope to be able to achieve planning consent by spring next year.

Work is also been done to prepare a fundraising plan.  The total costs of the redevelopment are expected to be over £275,000.  Various matched funding grants are available but we are going to need to raise significant funds to reach the goal. More news of events and how you can get involved to follow.