Hall Green Community Centre History by Cynthia Binns
The Hall Green Community Association was formed in 1977.
In the beginning they met and held their meetings in Crigglestone Middle school.
In August 1978 the Hall Green Community Association tried to purchase a piece of council owned land just off Stoney Lane on which they were hoping to build a new community centre but were unsuccessful. In 1979 when the washerteria on Painthorpe Lane became vacant the Parish council agreed to purchase the building in order for it to be used by Hall Green Community Association as a Community Centre.
Hall Green Community Association took over the responsibility of the managing and running of the building and its activities. Various clubs were formed including a film club and Bingo club. Hall Green community centre as it is now known is well used and supported by the Community.
In 1986 the centre was threatened with closure due to lack of funds and the absence of a full committee. A new committee was formed from local Parish councillors and some members of groups that were running in the centre.
Over the years the Community Centre has had its good times and its bad times. It has always been a struggle to keep a full voluntary committee.
The Hall Green Community Centre has been renovated beyond recognition from its roots as a launderette. A new double glazed frontage was fitted. A new kitchen installed to comply with health and safety regulations. New toilets including a child sized toilets and hand basin, disabled toilets and Nappy changing facilities. Wet and dry flooring. New electrics and smoke alarms. Due to a break in and some vandalism the centre now has electric shutters fitted over the windows.
The Centre is well used by the local community and provides meetings for groups of senior citizens. A parent and toddler group and a pre-school group for under fives.
The Hall Green Community Association arrange social events and fund raising events that are held in the centre this year there has been a Jumble Sale, Easter fair, Quiz Night and more events are planned through to the end of the year.
During the summer holidays the committee have organised a summer play scheme to run throughout the school holidays for the benefit of children aged 5 to 11 years.
Other organisations use the Hall Green Community centre for their meetings such as, the local Councillors. Parish councillors, and our local neighbourhood police team, It is used as a polling station for local and General Elections.
Arthritis Care hold their branch meetings in the centre once a month.
The Hall Green Community centre is also available for private hire for parties and functions.
The Community Association management committee are working on extending the facilities they provide and are looking to set up a junior youth club to start in the autumn term. They are also making plans for the formation of a senior youth group to be run and managed by young people from the local community.
The volunteer management committee are looking to expand the facilities when ever and where ever they can. They are only a small team and are working hard to extend that team in order to provide much more and would welcome more volunteers from the local community.
There is so much more that could be done, the building itself is not ideal and would benefit from an upgrade or ideally being replaced by a purpose built venue.
Visit Hall Green Community Centre
