Classes Are Slowly Returning

 

THE VILLAGE HALL


We hope everyone is keeping well and we wanted to let everyone know, that regular classes are slowly returning to the hall, and you should contact your group for further information.
Can anyone who usually hires the hall on a regular basis and has not as yet returned, contact us via the email please wenvoevillagehall@yahoo.co.uk to keep us up to date. Thank you
Although things are slowly returning, risk assessments are in place to keep everyone as safe as possible. Therefore, we regret to say that we have decided that the Children’s Halloween Disco will not be taking place this year. It has also been discussed and decided that we will not be doing our Christmas Draw again this year. Fingers crossed for next year.
Children’s party bookings are now being taken for Sundays along with other family events. Please email wenvoevillagehall@yahoo.co.uk for availability.

 



 

Village Hall Volunteers

A PLEA FROM THE VILLAGE HALL VOLUNTEERS


Over a period of a couple of weeks in lockdown, youngsters playing football in the carpark of the village hall caused damage to the central heating overflow pipe, guttering and two outside lights Unfortunately the broken glass, found when the playgroup arrived, had to be swept up before the children could be allowed in.

The hall was painted last summer to create a warm welcome to groups returning to use the facilities. The walls have now had to be washed because of footballs being kicked up against them. Our cleaner generously did this, without being asked.

The Covid situation means we have been unable too pen so there is no money coming in except from playgroup. The cost of the repairs and the possibility of having to install CCTV is a concern to us.

There is a sign in the carpark saying ‘No football’. The boys have been asked on a number of occasions not to play in the car park but have just ignored us. The police have been informed of the damage caused and are looking into it.

The hall is there for all in the village to enjoy and residents are very supportive of this facility. So we are asking the parents of these youngsters to help us by informing them to please not play football in the village hall carpark. Thank you.

 



 

Dancing School Still Trying to Operate

ANNETTE BRACEY SCHOOL OF DANCING

This is such a difficult and hard time for everyone and I hope you are all safe and well .
But I would just like you to know that my Dancing School is still trying to operate from the Village Hall every Saturday. Obviously we are COVID risk secure within the Government Guide lines.
We have had to shorten our classes to deep clean after each class to keep safe which is the right thing to do. Any inquiries are welcome; so please be free to enquire do not just turn up.
See our website www.annettebraceyschoolofdancing. co.uk If you are working from home or indeed would like to exercise from the comfort of your own home I have a number of classes on a private live Facebook Stream including.

Dance Exercise
Dance Toning
Tap Fit
Ballroom Fit

So if you would like to give any a go message the details above.
Stay safe and well Annette Bracey

 



 

Wanted – Volunteers for Management

WENVOE VILLAGE HALL

Your Local Registered Charity

Due to the current virus in circulation, we have decided to cancel our Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020. Due to the local lockdown(s) now in place, we feel that it is unsafe to meet indoors and invite everyone to an AGM who would wish to support the hall!

You may be aware that the land that the Village Hall sits on belongs to the Wenvoe Estate. Without a Management Committee the hall would be given back to the owners, to sell on and/or build upon.

We do hope that during lockdown, some of you lovely people reading this, will think of supporting your local charity, by becoming a member of its Management. We mainly look after the up-keep of the hall by meeting once a month (with the exception of August) to ensure our community can offer a great venue for many in our Village. Classes held; Badminton, Karate, Dancing and Children’s parties to mention a few (Covid permitting). Not forgetting it is the home of our local Playgroup which is also a Charity.

The Village Hall has been successful in obtaining 2 small grants to make us as Covid Safe as possible. We were also successful with a slightly larger grant from the Vale of Glamorgan to help with its up-keep for the short term, whilst some of our hirers have been unable to return safely.

The Committee would like to thank Gail for all her hard work in obtaining these grants.

We are following the latest updated Government advice. At this time only classes who support Children under 11 are able to return and meet indoors.

Should the Government advice allow groups of adults to meet indoors once more, then please get in touch with Carol on our email, wenvoevillagehall@ yahoo.co.uk. We would like to say a thank you from the Committee to Carol for all her hard work behind the scenes at these unprecedented times. Thank you, Carol.

We are sorry to say that there will be NO ‘Christmas Raffle Draw’ for the Village Hall this year.

With the current pandemic in circulation and the loss of many jobs and businesses, we thought it only respectful that we don’t add to the burden by asking for raffle prize donations. We also thought, that as we are unable to meet or mix with people from different households, that it would be extremely difficult to sell tickets anyway.

Be aware! We hope to be back bigger and better for 2021 when we celebrate the hall’s 100th Birthday

 



 

History of The Wenvoe Village Hall

A little history

The Village Hall is situated on land owned by the Wenvoe Estate and was offered to the residents of Wenvoe for a peppercorn rent after World War 1. It was offered to the residents (referred to as villagers at the time) to build a village hall, so that they could have a place to meet and hold their dances.

The first lease dates back to 1921, which would mean that next year, the Village Hall celebrates its 100th Birthday/Centenary. I am sure we will be planning to celebrate, so watch out for how you can help at a later date.

The hall has been a main part of our community for nearly 100 years.

The school children would attend the Village Hall for lunch daily, until the new school and its canteen arrived in the Autumn of 1970 (not the whole school as you see it today, just two classrooms, hall and canteen. However, that’s a story for their 50th Birthday celebrations).

I remember attending talent competitions, discos, youth club and judo as a child at the village hall and in the 70s our famous Beer Barrel Rolling Race after party with lots of beer and Mike’s brass band. These memories were mostly of the ‘Old Village Hall’. The hall as you see it today, was rebuilt in 1974 (I can hear some of you saying to yourselves ‘The Old Tin Shack’ at this point).

Of course, there are many people still living in the village today, who could share more memories, especially later memories of their Carnivals and themed nights out.

Whilst I have been a Committee Member these past 26 years, we have raised funds to keep the hall open, by holding jumble sales, car boot sales, discos and dances, as did those before me.

Over the past couple of years, the hall is hired out continuously, so the rents mostly cover the basic outgoings with the odd disco or fundraiser now and again.

The hall has also been the home of the Playgroup for the past 50 years, which is continuing to grow and providing much needed income to keep the hall up and running.

As many of you know, the hall closed its doors at the end of March due to Covid-19. Although the Management Committee have continued to keep in touch via zoom and regularly check on the safety and upkeep of the building, we were unable to open without clear guidance from the Welsh Government. At the time of writing this, we are planning to meet on the 18th August to discuss a way forward to open the hall to regular hirers in the Autumn (keeping 2m distance of course).

The Committee have been busy preparing for the hall’s re-opening, with Bernard completing some much-needed maintenance at the hall over the past few months. Thanks Bernard.

New internal doors have been installed over the past month, and we are awaiting the outside of the hall to be painted prior to an Autumn return.

Gail has been very busy, scouring the latest up-dates and applying for grants to help us survive the loss of income due to the hall closure. Thanks Gail.

Regular hirers: If it is your wish to resume your hire and you have not been contacted, please email us at wenvoevillagehall@yahoo.co.uk Carol will be at the end of the email to help. Alternatively, if you are hoping to delay your return, then please let Carol know and she can keep us informed.

We do have to follow Government guidelines and ensure that we can open the hall safely whilst coronavirus remains in circulation. We would like to thank you for your patience in these uncertain times and hope to welcome you back to the hall in the near future.

Please remember, that your group must be able to maintain a safe 2m social distance whilst operating at the hall.

A hand sanitiser is placed just inside the main entrance to use on entry, then you must use the bathroom and the hand soap provided to wash your hands on entry and prior to leaving the hall.

Further details will be issued with the hall risk assessment to operate and adhere to a.s.a.p.

Anyone with the following symptoms should not use or attend the Village Hall

  • A new continuous cough
  • A high temperature
  • Loss of smell or taste

 

Please arrange for a test and self-isolate for 10 days if you have any of the above symptoms. Anyone in your household must also isolate for 14 days.

Do not leave the house to go to the Doctors or Pharmacy. Apply for an antigen test on the website: https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirys-test

 

Thank you on behalf of the Village Hall Management Committee – Sandra