Acknowledgements

The Trustees of Slaidburn Property Trust who commissioned the hall acknowledge the help they have received from so many sources and particularly from an independent charity, North West Trust.

This exceptional village hall would have been built to a more typical standard without considerable help from North West Trust who had first to be convinced there was the local leadership and enthusiasm to see the project through. The Trustees of Slaidburn Property Trust are pleased with the confidence that North West Trust has shown in them personally and with the unstinting support it has given to every facet of this project. Both charities are confident they have now achieved a building that is so essential for the future sustainability of a diverse, scattered rural community.

The architect, Alistair Sunderland, and his team at Austin-Smith:Lord were asked to produce a quality building which gave specified accommodation on a very compact site. Alistair’s vision has produced a breathtaking, environmentally friendly building which is widely acclaimed.

Support received from the community has been considerable and is very much appreciated. Many local people, including some of the older people whose youth revolved around the the building in its former role as a Methodist Chapel, have embraced change and given generously of their time, experience, energy and funds. The degree of support can be measured by the remarkable sum of £53,731 against an original target of £25,000 raised by the community towards the total cost of the hall.

Many charities, businesses, official bodies and funders have helped produce the money that has helped to make the project happen. Funds have come from Europe, the North West Region, Lancashire and Bowland to support regeneration and the environment. Public funders provided half the site cost and around 10% of the build cost. The logos of the public funders are reproduced below.

Thanks are also due to the Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP) and Community Futures for the sustained support and development of our funding programme. LEP, through The Enterprising Rural Communities Programme, provided the means in the form of a substantial contribution to secure the purchase of the building originally and further funding from the Pathfinder in Practice programme managed by LEP has been used towards the construction costs of the hall to enable a range of services to be delivered locally.

The Trustees of Slaidburn Property Trust gratefully acknowledge all the help they have received and thank all concerned.

This website is the work of our Village Hall Committee, led by Arwen Ball. The committee work together to keep it updated.