Councillors visited the Christmas Community Hub at Little Thetford Village Hall to see how county council funding has been used to boost safety, accessibility, and comfort.
Cambridgeshire County Council awarded £39,500 from the Cambridgeshire Priorities Capital Fund to support the next phase of Little Thetford Village Hall’s modernisation programme.
This funding has enabled the refurbishment of the men’s toilets and the installation of new fire and exit doors, significantly improving safety, accessibility, and comfort for the local community.
To celebrate this achievement, a commemorative plaque was presented to Village Hall Trustees at the Christmas Community Hub earlier this month. The presentation was made by Cllr Alison Whelan, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee, with Cllr Tom Hawker-Dawson, local member of the council for Little Thetford also in attendance.
Guests at the Christmas Community Hub enjoyed festive refreshments, lively conversation, and seasonal entertainment, reflecting the hall’s role as a warm and welcoming hub for the whole community.
The funded works form part of the Village Hall Trustees’ long‑term plan to transform the building into a modern, inclusive and environmentally sustainable Community Hub, to continue to build on the progress made over the past 18 months.
Improvements already delivered include the installation of 32 solar panels and battery storage, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, and new audio‑visual equipment.
Cllr Alison Whelan, Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to support Little Thetford Village Hall with this programme of improvements.
“Village halls are lifelines for rural residents and it was great to visit such a vibrant community space. From hosting NHS‑linked programmes, exercise classes and community events, to parent and toddler groups and visits from specialist advisors – these works are helping this Village Hall remain the centre of village life, at Christmas and all year round.
Graham James, Trustee of Little Thetford Village Hall and Lead Volunteer of the Monday Community Hub, added: “Our focus is on bringing experiences and providing a safe, warm space for people from within Little Thetford and the surrounding villages to socialise and enjoy themselves. Loneliness is now recognised nationally as a serious issue, especially within rural communities. The trustees extend a massive thank you to all our funders for the support we have received to manage events and improve the fabric of our building.”
Little Thetford Village Hall is one of 26 community projects across Cambridgeshire awarded funding by the County Council’s Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee. Applicants demonstrated how their project supported the council’s ambitions – creating a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire.
