Project: Village hall renovations
Loan: £50,000
The Saye and Sele Foundation is an educational charity providing grants within the local community to young people under the age of 25, with a particular focus on young people from low income families and those with disabilities. The Saye and Sele Hall in the village of Quainton is owned by the charity and is available for voluntary organisations and interest groups to hire at an affordable rate.
The hall was primarily used by the pre-school, but due to not being considered fit for purpose the hall was closed and families forced to travel to other villages for pre-school provision.
In addition to fundraising by the community, the foundation applied to Heart of Bucks for a loan of £50,000 to contribute towards the refurbishment and allow this previously much loved and well used facility to be used once again.
The project is now completed and the hall has reopened for use by all the community groups and the pre-school will be re-established within the community.
Linda Puttick, Secretary said:
It is early days yet but it is already proving popular as a venue for social gatherings and children’s parties. All of the users have been most complimentary about how light and airy the ‘new’ hall is and how warm and welcoming it is. It is a delightful asset to the village.
I was particularly struck by the face of a little boy on his fourth birthday as he entered the hall to find it decked out in full Harry Potter/Hogwarts regalia. That small detail made all the hard work and effort worthwhile for the refurbishment team.
None of this would have been possible without the support and enthusiasm of Heart of Bucks and we are truly grateful to them.
