History of the hall

1979 - 2019

In 1972 plans were initiated by Much Birch Parochial Church Council to build a new hall for the benefit of Much Birch Church, for Church Educational Purposes and for general use by the whole community.  As a result Much Birch Community Centre was eventually opened on 13th May 1979.  Funds were raised then by many local and national benefactors.

In recent years, the philosophy of the Management Committee has been to improve the Hall to meet modern day requirements. It has become the central hub for Much Birch and surrounding villages. The space brings people together, provides important facilities for a rural population, giving people of all ages the opportunity to meet and to socialise and the Hall will continue to play a role by doing so, in reducing isolation and loneliness in this rural area, for example setting up the new Community Café. Around 400 people currently use the Hall on a regular weekly or monthly basis, which increases with such events as Flicks in the Sticks, the Village Market, the Café, Concerts and other social and fundraising events. The Hall is run exclusively by unpaid volunteers. 

Following consultation with local users and other people, the committee identified the need to upgrade and extend the facilities, for use in the present day and for the future. Before work began on the latest extension we enlarged the car park, renewed the pavement to the frontage of the premises, constructed ramps to the rear of the building, upgraded the heating system, built the Arthur Harris Room/Community Resource Centre, installed solar panels and double glazing, upgraded the roof insulation and replaced the oil tank. We also purchased removable staging for appropriate events.

 The new extension that opened in 2019 provides an enlarged lobby with a canopy over the front entrance, two extra meeting/activity rooms, reconfiguration and installation of new toilets, with separate accessible toilet, an area for nappy changing, a new cleaners/storage room, and a new corridor giving access to the rear of the building and the upper floor. The kitchen has also been extended and refurbished.

Grateful thanks go to many people for their support of this project. This includes our own Management Committee for their commitment and support over the years, to our fundraiser who joined us latterly with her expertise in completing funding applications, and to the local businessman who organised and funded the foundation groundworks and provided the front porch canopy and handrail free of charge. Our thanks must include all the organisations and individuals who made contributions, and to all those members of the community who helped to raise money by supporting fundraising events.  Last of all we are indebted to ‘The National Lottery Community Fund’ ‘Welcome To Our Future’ for their major contributions which has enabled us to complete the project.