Project to build a Village Hall for Bruisyard

At the present time, Bruisyard does not have a shop, pub, village hall or any other community building other than the small vestry attached to St. Peters' Church. The vestry has only very limited space and no facilities apart from electric lighting and is suitable for holding only small meetings. The Parish Plan completed in 2005 identified strong support for building a community centre for the village on the Parish Park. The Parish Park is in the centre of the village and was purchased by the Parish Council in 1995. This land was previously a waste storage area for old trucks and machinery and has been transformed over recent years into an attractive park which is widely used by residents and visitors.

In response to the Parish Plan, the Parish Council formed a Village Hall Committee with the objective of providing a community centre for the village which meets the current and future needs of the residents and potential user groups, is financially and economically sustainable, and has minimal environmental impact. The aim of the Village Hall is to support and foster a broad range of activities to enhance the quality of life for everyone living in the community, covering all age groups, stimulating greater social interaction and community involvement, and actively supporting social inclusion.

The Village Hall Committee members are;

John McKee (Chair)

Nicola Able

Thelma Barham

Paul Church

John Gibb

John Marten

Peter Robinson (Financial Controller)

Keelan Smith

Chris Smith

Anne Smith

David Smith (Secretary)

To seek funding for the project, the Committee submitted a Stage 1 application form to the Big Lottery Fund/Community Buildings Programme in August 2006. In February 2007, the Committee received the fantastic news that our application had been successful and that we were invited to submit a Stage 2 application. We were also awarded a development grant to cover the costs of the necessary ground surveys, professional fees and local authority planning/building control fees. Planning permission was granted by Suffolk Coastal District Council on 13 November and the Stage 2 application to the Big Lottery Fund/Community Buildings Programme was submitted on 15 November. On 31 March 2008, the Big Lottery Fund announced the award of £187,218 to Bruisyard Parish Council to build the village hall. This fantastic news means that the project can now proceed and building work should commence on site in late 2008. The grant from the Big Lottery amounts to ~85% of the total costs for building and equipping the hall. The Parish Council have also allocated £300 towards the build costs and BSAC (Bruisyard Social Amenities Committee) has awarded £1000 which has been raised from events held in the village. The Alde Community Council have also awarded a grant of £250. 

On 24 July 2008, the Parish Council received the excellent news that Suffolk County Council had awarded the project £20,000 from the Corporate Regeneration Fund and on 15 August, Suffolk Coastal District Council granted an award of £10,000 from the Capital Grant Aid scheme. This excellent news means that all funds have now been secured to deliver the project.

We are very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, BSAC and the Alde Community Council for all their help and support in this project.

BBQ and Village Consultation - Sunday 10 June 2007

 The Village Hall Committee celebrate the award of the Big Lottery Grant at the meeting held in March 2008

We would be delighted to hear from other villages who have either built or are hoping to build a village hall. We are keen to learn from your experiences and pass on the lessons we have learnt so far. Please contact us.

Many years ago, Bruisyard did have a successful village hall which was known as the 'Iron Room'. This was a Victorian corrugated-iron Sunday School building. The building has to be demolished in the mid 1960's as it was structurally unsafe and even the basic repair costs were prohibitive. Despite this building having no electricity or running water, it was greatly loved and much used by the community. Even 40 years on, it is fondly remembered as the social hub of the community where many couples met and several had their wedding receptions - the dances held at the 'Iron Room' are still mentioned today by many of the elderly residents in the area. The cost of building a new village hall and the lack of a suitable site have been a hugh barrier for the community in recreating the 'Iron Room'. The purchase by the Parish Council of the land which is now the Parish Park has provided an ideal location for a village hall. Our hope is that with help from the Big Lottery/Community Buildings Programme, we can deliver a community centre for the village which will help recreate the community spirit and social interaction lost over 40 years ago.

To download the press articles published on the village hall;

• East Anglian Daily Times - 11 August 2007.
• East Anglian Daily Times - 8 December 2007.
• East Anglian Daily Times - 3 April 2008.
• East Anglian Daily Times - 22 September 2008.