Housing staff brush up for village hall makeover

Published by Steve Murphy for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Communities

A FORGOTTEN village hall in a corner of Hampshire will get the kiss of life next week, when Sentinel Housing Association staff attempt a massive makeover to turn it back into the hub of the community.

Penwood Village Hall near Highclere, Newbury, started life as a milking shed, before evolving into a thriving venue, featuring music, dances and plays. Now showing its 60 years, Sentinel staff responded to a local appeal for help by sending a 16-strong Community Impact Team to transform the hall in just 600 minutes.

Leaking gutters will be fixed, a noticeboard assembled, and a new sign has been commissioned to direct in visitors. The whole place will get a paint-job too, including rafters, roof and walls.

Penwoods 600-minute makeover is one of six projects designed to produce a positive impact by Sentinel, and came about as an alternative an annual staff conference.

Project team leader Alyson Pittman said: Ten hours is not a long time on a building thats seen better days. But we want to make a lasting improvement, to help keep the community spirit alive. And for us the experience is all about getting out from behind our desks and making a genuine impact."

Despite the credit crunch, business partners of Sentinel dug deep to support the project, including CLC Contractors which is providing the paint, brushes and even ladders. Office Depot, Signs and Lines Ltd, A&E Builders and Kincraig Construction have all donated materials or manpower to help the team reach its goal within the tight deadline.