Brief History

    

The Village Hall was purchased from funds raised by public subscription in the 1960's and went on to be managed by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for twenty years. In 1995 the Council decided that the Hall was no longer a financially viable facility and that unless a local Management Committee took over the day to day running, it would close. The regular users of the Hall at that time formed the first Committee and then went on to register the Hall as a Charity.

 

The Committee devised a Development Plan which looked at improving the hall in various phases. Each phase could be funded separately allowing the progression of improvements to be implemented in priority order. It aimed at being selfsustainable and devised a strategy to avoid grant dependence.

The strategy has been to bring a range of services to one convenient, attractive and central location working with other agencies to the benefit of the local Community. The Hall is fully accessible. There is a lift to the first floor, ramps to the building and disabled toilet facilities.

 

  

The Village Hall has become a successful meeting place for the Community and surrounding area that it serves. It provides education courses, leisure activities, information surgeries and an abundance of fitness classes. It presents a warm friendly atmosphere in pleasant surroundings. Some of the Social Groups that use the Hall have been doing so for many years, these include:


  • The Darby & Joan Group (now known as Over 55's Club) who recently celebrated their 56th year at the hall.
  • The Rifle Club (to the rear of the building) have used the Hall for 60 years.
  • The North Gawber Male Voice Choir who practise weekly at the Hall.

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    We wish to thank these groups for supporting us before and during the refurbishment and still support us to this day. The Village Hall has around 115,000 visitors per year. It continues to thrive and has fulfilled its aim of becoming the hub of community activity and development. A Management Committee consisting of 10 volunteers meet each month to ensure the development of the site continues to maximise both Community benefit and income. Other volunteers work on various projects within the Hall.