Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, met with Five Ashes Village Hall Management Committee Chair and Members to learn more about the ways in which the village hall serves the local community.
Having been established in 1976 and attached to what was then the cricket pavilion, the hall has been the centre of Five Ashes, providing people with a space to meet and socialise. In 2015, thanks to funding grants from Big Lottery and Wealden District Council, the refurbished hall was officially opened by Jayne Torvill OBE. The facility was extended to include a second building along with new toilet facilities, air source heating, LED lighting and photovoltaic cells as well as being built to the latest regulations for insulation purposes and compliance to disabled user requirements.
The present-day site, is the home to a number of organisations, clubs and societies, including the Five Ashes Horticultural Society, exercise classes such as dance, Yoga and Pilates, and painting workshops. The two halls, a small meeting room and The Memorial Playing Field are available for hire starting at £16 an hour, and are a great venue for weddings, parties, dances, exercise classes and meetings. The facility boasts a large car park and also has an adjacent children's play area and a sensory garden.
For more information, to book or to find out more about volunteering opportunities, visit www.fiveashesvillagehall.wixsite.com/fiveashesvillagehall, email [email protected] or call 07858 808030.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Village halls are key assets for our rural communities, providing vital spaces and facilities for people of all ages to connect. Five Ashes village hall is a fantastic multi-purpose facility, providing an accessible, safe and welcoming space for a huge variety of community events, activities and gatherings. I was pleased to meet with the Management Committee Chair Geoff Gregory and his colleagues to hear more about the important role the village hall plays in bringing people together, helping to combat loneliness and isolation and promoting wellbeing of residents of all ages. I am hugely grateful to all the volunteers whose hard work is keeping the village hall the vibrant hub that it continues to be. The Committee is looking for reliable and enthusiastic individuals to support the day-to-day management of the village hall’s busy schedule, so if you have some time to spare, please do get in touch with them.”
