Osmotherley’s village hall upgraded crockery with grant

Osmotherley Village Hall, originally built as a school in 1836 and now a much-loved community hub on the edge of the North York Moors, updated its kitchen equipment with help from a £200 grant from the Broadacres Community Development Fund, alongside its own fundraising efforts.

Paul Howlett, chairperson of the village hall committee, said: “Over time items have got broken or chipped and some of them had a very 1970s look.

“We want locals to be able to enjoy events in the village and first impressions are important.

“For larger-scale events such as wedding parties or family gatherings there is an expectation of improved facilities and matching crockery is part of that.”

The hall is busy most days of the week, hosting a wide range of events including parent and toddler, a film club, theatre groups, sitting yoga, and a garden club.

It is also used for private functions such as christening parties and wakes.

Mr Howlett said: “If you look at the Post Office that operates out of the hall, without that, locals would face a 14-mile round trip to Northallerton which is time-consuming for anyone and for some, such as an elderly person or a parent with young children, can present a challenge.”

The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports organisations in the area, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes.

All grants are approved by the association’s residents.

Osmotherley Village Hall’s upgrade comes as usage of the hall returns to pre-COVID levels.

More information about Broadacres’ fund can be found on its website.