Trust grant will help with access (From Free Press Series)

Trust grant will help with access

Access to clubs and facilities at a community centre in Garndiffaith will soon be much easier for a wider range of people thanks to a £6,407 grant from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT).

Victoria Village & District Welfare Hall, open since 1959, hosts a wide range of community activities aimed at all age groups. There's a dance club, keep fit, archery, concerts and more.

The committee responsible for the upkeep of the hall is embarking on a major refurbishment costing over £20,000. They submitted various grant applications, including one to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, a charity dedicated to the social and economic regeneration of coalfield communities, for money to provide disabled access to the hall and disabled toilet facilities, and ensure compliance with new legislation.

CRT Trustee Wayne Thomas said: "The Trust is a fervent supporter of village halls such as this one, which plays an important role in the community.

Derek Hynam, a member of the committee which runs the hall said: "We are keen to comply with the new legal requirements regarding access to ensure the hall has a long-term future, so we are grateful to the Trust for its important contribution."