Lottery funds offered to refurbish Wealden village halls

The National Lottery is to help 12 villages across Wealden with grants towards refurbishment of halls and community centres.

Places to benefit include Chiddingly/East Hoathly, Cross in Hand/Five Ashes, Danehill, Fletching, Nutley, Alfriston, Hartfield, Heathfield East, Hellingly, Ninfield/Hooe/Wartling, Pevensey and Westham.

The National Lottery Buildings Programme has announced that refurbishment grants worth up to £500,000 are available for these villages.

Cllr Pam Doodes, Cabinet member for community at Wealden District Council said the money could be used to refurbish and extend village halls and community centres.

“Investment in village halls not only boosts the income of these important community-owned assets but also supports local jobs,” said Cllr Doodes.

“The activities run in the halls provide a wide range of benefits to the rural communities they serve, many at a very low cost thanks to the tremendous effort put in by volunteers,” she added.

A press release from Wealden Council said other parts of Wealden which are not eligible for Buildings Programme grants could apply to the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund which provides grants of up to £50,000 for building projects.

Learn more about the Reaching Communities Fund on the Big Lottery website.

Community group s can contact Wealden Council’s grants and voluntary sector support officer Michelle Eldridge for further information about grants available for local projects, telephone 01323 443520, email community grants@wealden.gov.uk.