Preston Bissett Village Hall update
Efforts to secure the Old School for use as the village hall have been ongoing for over 20 years and, finally, the trustees have achieved it. Outlined below is a brief update on where we are, what the plans are and a ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) summary at the end.
The Past
When the building was gifted in the 19th century it was run as a school. It was a requirement that the vicar and the two church wardens would be the trustees. This practice has continued to this day with David Hiscock, Graham Gulliver and Ron Aspinall currently being responsible for The Old School House, The Old School Building and gardens with any income from these set aside for building repairs, maintenance, and insurance. This is now operating as the Preston Bissett Recreational Trust (PBRT).
The Present
A new charitable structure has now been set up to improve and manage the village hall (including the tarmac area to the rear). This will be operating as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under Charity Commission guidelines. We are in the process of agreeing a lease. There are currently four trustees; our names are in the FAQs. Having said that we wish to increase this number to eight so that we have a broad representation of people from the village managing our hall. If you would like to put your name forward please let any of us know.
The Future
We are now putting together our initial thoughts and plans to improve the village hall and will be providing regular updates on the improvement plans and progress. We welcome everyone’s input and ideas; please let us know what you want. We want to create a space that will be at the centre of village activities. As a start we want to smarten the hall, make it watertight and ensure it is a more pleasant environment to be in. As our funding improves our aim is to install proper toilets, a proper kitchen and open up the rear so that full use can be made of the old school yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answers | |
| 1. | Who are the current trustees? | Anna King, Harry Morton, Mark Payne and Carl Shute |
| 2. | Who now legally owns the Village Hall? | The PBRT through the three trustees. We have a 64 year lease granted by the PBRT, which is the maximum allowed by the Charity Commission. |
| 3. | What are the CIO’s aims? | To improve, modernise and manage the building and its facilities to allow it to become a true village asset. |
| 4. | What happens to the house and gardens attached to the Village Hall? | These will continue to be managed by PBRT with any income kept for ongoing maintenance and insurance. |
| 5. | What influence does the Church now have in managing the Village Hall? | None once the lease is agreed. |
| 6. | Who will be able to use the Village Hall? | Within reason anyone will be able to hire the Village Hall. Any village groups that want to use the hall for fundraising or charitable events will be able make use of its facilities free of charge. |
| 7. | Money | PBRT has spent over £30,000 on legal and other fees to get legal ownership and get us to the present position.A £10,000 grant has been acquired by the PBRT and will be used by CIO as ‘start-up’ funds to get us on our way. |
From the trustees of the village hall CIO: Anna King, Harry Moreton, Mark Payne and Carl Shute
Date: 24 May 2022