Allchurches Trust grants £750

26 August 2008

Even during the holiday season, fundraising doesn't stop - nor does the support we receive from other organisations. The Allchurches Trust is the latest charity to recognise the value of the Halls Modernisation Project, with a second grant from their precious finances.

Big Lottery Fund pay us a visit

20 August 2008

Having received our Stage 2 Application, representatives of the Big Lottery Fund visited us today, and spent the day with the Project Board during which they viewed the site and gained further in-depth knowledge of the project and our plans. We now await their response in a few months' time.

Grant Applications are on track

30th July 2008

Funding arrangements for the Modernisation Project took a step forward today, when our application to the Big Lottery Fund's Community Buildings Programme was completed and mailed to the Big Lottery Fund's offices. This is a Stage 2 Application, so we are well on the way to getting a decision on this major part of our funding. However, further funds still need to be raised, and we are relying on the continuing support of our active community organisations, as well as making grant applications to other bodies.

Summer Fair - something wonderful!

27th July 2008

Our Summer Fair on Saturday 26th July was a resounding success, with all the Halls' user Organisations working hard and the community turning out in force to support us. The net result - another £1,700 for the Modernisation Project! Click here to read a report and see some photographs.

Another £1,000 - it just keeps rolling in!

25th June 2008

A commercial organisation, happy to remain anonymous, has donated £1,000 to the Modernisation Project this week! What a positive statement of the worth of the work we are doing - and of the needs we are addressing. If you or your organisation would like to help us in any way, we will be pleased to publicise it; however we take this opportunity to convey publicly our gratitude for the many anonymous donations we have received.

Colchester Borough Council grant £15,000

21st June 2008

We are delighted to report that we have received a cheque from Colchester Borough Council for £14,985.13p as a grant to the Modernisation project. The money represents "Section 106 funds", relating to the development of the local community. We are most grateful for this valuable encouragement, which also demonstrates the worth of our project to other potential sources of funding.

Craft and Chat.. and cash

12th June 2008

Girlguiding Myland can be delighted with their "Craft and Chat" evening, to raise funds for our Modernisation Project - every ticket was sold for the event, and it was a full and productive evening in all senses of those words! £269.28 was raised, which keeps up the Project's momentum and is a great encouragement to all the other User Organisations who have generously planned further events to be held in the coming weeks and months Thank you!

Partnership Sponsors strengthen our case

31st May 2008

We are delighted to announce two more Partnership Sponsors of the Myland Parish Halls Modernisation Project -Greenacres Property Management and C M Cadman & Son. This raises to 7 the number of local businesses who recognise the value of the work we are doing - and the value of community itself. This is a great encouragement for us, and also an important statement that we have broad local support. Thank you!

Myland Parish Council Adds yet more support

31st May 2008

We have heard today that Myland Parish Council, already strong supporters of the Myland Parish Halls Modernisation Project, have voted a generous donation of £1,000. We are humbly aware that the money available to the Council is raised from local Rates, and vow to ensure that the Myland community receives good value for this valuable  contribution.

Grand Open Day was.... grand!

31st May 2008

Over 200 people were involved in making our Grand Open Day a success. All the User Organisations were represented, and had prepared display stands to introduce and promote their Groups to the people of Myland, who came along in good numbers - as did MP Bob Russell, himself a strong supporter. There was lots of interest, too, in our plans for the future of the Halls, including the 3-D animation of the building plans prepared by our Architects. But most of all, the Open Day brought the community together in a new and exciting way. Well done, all! Click here for a couple of photos...

All in a week's work!

24th May 2008

In one amazing week, over £600 has been raised for the Halls Modernisation Project by our local community - and hundreds of people were involved! Firstly, Myland County Primary School raised £256 on their non-uniform day; then Girlguiding Myland raised over £80 at their family campfire songs evening. On top of that, we are delighted to announce three new Sponsor Partners - the Lorraine George School of Dancing and Performing Arts, the Hunnaball Family Funeral Group and Redwood Photographic Laboratories Limited. Thank you all, for your generous support.

Plant Sale raises over £700

10th May 2008

This year's Plant Sale, held in blazing sunshine on Saturday 10th May, made over £730 profit! That's a record for the event, and an enormous help towards our fundraising target. Click here for the story and photos.

Planning Consent Granted

1st May 2008

At the end of March we submitted our Planning Application for the modernisation of the Halls; the target date for concluding the work was 27th May, but we have now heard that Planning Consent has now been given! We are grateful to Colchester Borough Council for their hard work, and for all who have indicated their support.

The Fundraising Programme grows and grows!

23rd April 2008

Organisations who meet regularly at Myland Parish Halls have been very busy making plans for special events to raise funds for the Modernisation project - and some have already been held. To mention just three - Myland Playgroup raised £131 by dressing up & performing songs during Book Week; the Parent & Toddler Group raised over £100 through secondhand book sales and an Easter Raffle; and the Mothers' Union raised over £100 by selling cakes & preserves after Church. Our thanks to everyone involved for your initiative and generosity! Click here to see what's coming up next.

User Organisations have the last word on modernisation

5th March 2008

At the beginning of March our architects, PJB Chartered Architects Ltd, produced a revised set of plans for the modernisation of the Halls, and Users were invited to view them and make suggestions at an Open Evening on 5th March. As a result, changes were made, the plans were costed and brought to a special meeting of the Halls Management Team, when we looked at the implications of the Project - principally the amount of money which has still to be raised, and how we are to achieve it all!

Halls win First Prize in Augustine Courtauld Memorial Awards

6th February 2008

At the 2008 Augustine Courtauld Memorial Awards, held annually by the Rural Community Council of Essex, Myland Parish Halls won the first prize, along with a cheque for £1,000. The citation reads "In recognition of their fundraising achievements" and we thank everyone involved with the Halls, because all have contributed to this success. The award will help us buy portable staging, enabling User Organisations put on performances, concerts, lectures and demonstrations - which of course will help us generate even more funds towards the Halls Modernisation Project.

See the press release and a photo on the RCCE website.

Family Beetle Drive raises fun and funds!

26th January 2008

There was frantic fun in Myland Parish Halls for our first fund-raising event of 2008 - and how good it was to see people of all ages enjoying a Family Beetle Drive. Often seen as a feature of social evenings in the dim and distant past, this Beetle Drive was a fast-paced and entertaining way to spend time with friends old and new. And the Modernisation Project benefited to the tune of £150! Well done, everyone!

Big Lottery Fund awards £25,000

19th December 2007

We are delighted to announce that the Big Lottery Fund have awarded the Halls a development Grant of £25,000 towards the Myland Parish Halls Modernisation Project.

Earlier in 2007, an application was made to the Big Lottery Fund's Community Buildings funding stream, and that application has successfully passed Stage 1. The development grant will fund work by the necessary professionals (architects, surveyors, solicitors etc) to enable us to submit a Stage 2 application in a few months' time. A final decision can then be made on whether a full grant will be awarded, and the decision will be conveyed to us in early 2009. If we are successful, the works can then go ahead.

This news is the culmination of sustained hard work over an extended period by a number of people in the Myland community. Some have made personal donations; many organisations and individuals have been hard at work fundraising; and we are most grateful for donations and support we have received from Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund, Myland Parish Council, Myland Community Association, The Community Forum and the Allchurches Trust; and the Rural Community Council of Essex.

There is still a substantial target for further fundraising, and a lot of hard work to do this year, but the Big Lottery Fund's decision has given us great encouragement.