​Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund
The Old Chapel Community Project was recently awarded £20,015.92 from the Village Hall Improvement G​rant Fund, an initiative that was set up by the government to mark the centenary of the Armistice. The grant funding is managed by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) on behalf of Defra with support from the ACRE Network. The grant aims to help fund the updating and refurbishment of village halls so that they are fit for purpose and provide activities which seek to achieve one or more of the following outcomes for their communities:
  • •Improved health and wellbeing/reduction in loneliness
  • •Demonstrates a positive impact on the environment
  • •Supports the local rural economy​
This is a wonderful boost at a tricky time, when our own fundraising initiatives have had to be postponed.
 
We would like to thank Howard Samuals, for his kind support of our application, in his capacity as both Chair of Gotherington Parish Council and as a Trustee of Gotherington Village Hall.  We are pleased to be able to work together to meet the needs of our expanding community.
We have also received grants from Enovert Community Trust (£50k), The National Lottery's Community Fund (£10k), the Garfield Weston Foundation (£7k) and Allchurches Trust (£3k), totalling £70k.  Thanks to the Grant funding committee, who have worked so hard on these applications.  We are all very excited to have this funding as it enables us to commence work on the renovation of The Old Chapel.   
The Old Chapel Community Project was set up in March 2018 by a group of people in the village, who wanted to ensure that The Old Chapel remained part of their community.

The aim of the project was to initially raise £50,000 required to purchase the building from the Countess of Huntingdon's Trust, thus preventing it from going to auction.  After just 10 weeks and a fabulous Open Day celebrating the Royal Wedding, we reached our goal, receiving donations and pledges totaling £50k!

On November 2nd 2018, purchase of The Old Chapel was completed.  An Official Opening Day was held on November 3rd, with special guest (and resident of Gotherington) Edward Gillespie OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.
The second phase of the project is to seek grant funding to fully renovate the building. 

​With local support we have secured financial investments for our project from the following community support schemes.
You can now support our charity as you shop.  Just register to amazon smile and Easyfundraising and search for 'The Old Chapel Community Project'
 The local support shown for The Old Chapel Community Project has proven the love people have for this building, and together we will ensure it remains open to the community for generations to come.