Why we need a new village hall

A village hall has been a central feature of Westcott since 1853. After many years of service to the village, the current prefab style building is coming to the end of its useful life. We are faced with ever-increasing costs for repair, maintenance and energy. A new village hall is a long term investment in the social fabric of the village, and will provide a focus and centre for the people of Westcott and surrounding areas. It will provide the higher standards of comfort, accessibility and energy efficiency demanded by a community building in the 21st century, and will replace our popular but ageing building with a more permanent village landmark.

In a recent Westcott Village Forum survey, a resounding 87% of respondents agreed the hall is vital to them. This is where we come together – to meet, to connect, to celebrate, and to build the bonds that make Westcott so special.

• Over 8,000 visits in 2025
• 840 children celebrated birthdays
• Over 800 fitness class attendances
• Over 1,000 bridge club players

There is a continuing strong demand for a public space in the village, and we anticipate that the Community Hall will bring in new activities and customers.

Our vision

The new Village Hall will be a welcoming space and will transform how our community comes together. Designed to be comfortable, it will draw in more people than ever before – from toddlers to grandparents, from fitness enthusiasts to parties. Our mission is to build a space that is adaptable and dynamic which will serve future generations to come and evolve as needs change.​

The proposed design delivers a large main hall, perfect for village meetings, exhibitions, bustling garden club shows, unforgettable parties, energising classes, creative workshops, performing arts and a polling station. Upstairs, there are two smaller spaces, ideal for close-knit clubs, lively societies, and committee meetings.​

This will be the beating heart of our village – an affordable venue where every resident can join in, feel connected, and be part of something truly extraordinary.

The facilities will include

• A main hall slightly larger than the current one
• A lift giving step-free first-floor access
• On the ground floor, a small room providing flexibility as a green room, bar or buffet area.
• Modern self-contained toilets
• Two separate meeting rooms on the first floor, both with tea/coffee stations
• On the first floor, a WC and additional storage areas

Our funding plan

The majority of the costs of building and equipping the hall will be raised by the sale of a plot of land owned by the Westcott Village Hall Trust CIO on Furlong Road, Westcott. Formerly known as The Hut, this land is the site of a former community building and bowling green, both of which have been derelict since 2017.

After five years of work by the Trustees and volunteer experts, planning consent for residential use was obtained on the site. The sale of this site will unlock the main part of the funding needed for the new Hall project.

We are seeking capital grant gap funding in order to complete our project, to a scale and quality which befits a village of this size. This will be raised by a combination of:

• Donations from the village, for interim funding until the land is sold
• Fund raising events, such as Quiz Night, Open Gardens, etc
• Sale of the land at Furlong Road
• Capital grant funding from bodies such as the National Lottery Community Fund

How to donate

Donations are welcome in the following ways:

By bank transfer:

WESTCOTT VILLAGE HALL TRUST A REGISTER CHARITY
Account number: 23905934
Sort code: 20-88-13

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JustGiving:

https://checkout.justgiving.com/c/3970157

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Sponsorship opportunities

We are offering a number of sponsorship packages, depending on the level of donation. Please get in touch with us to discuss.

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