Hall or nothing for fundraisers

May 23 2007 Jenny Wood

A PERTHSHIRE community is pulling out all the stops in an 11th hour appeal to raise funds which will save their village hall from closure.

Locals have turned on people power to raise £40,000 in 40 days — the cash and deadline to bring Glenfarg Hall up to modern standards.

Tireless fundraising by the community has already raised a whopping £300,000-plus.

But the challenge kicked off last weekend to meet the shortfall needed to ensure the future of its major village hall redevelopment.

Campaigners fear that without redevelopment the hall will fall into disrepair and could face closure.

Pierette Melville, secretary of the Glenfarg Village Hall Committee, explained the final push is to appeal to all those who have ever used the popular hall in the past to support the appeal.

People can sponsor parts of the hall regeneration by ‘buying’ a brick in the new extension for just £1 each.

They can even donate towards new plumbing and construction as part of the innovative ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ campaign.

Pierette added: “We are urging all those who have ever enjoyed clubs or classes in the hall, or attended a ceilidh, coffee morning or social event there, to each donate a brick’s worth to the appeal.

“But we don’t just want them to stop there.

“Families feeling flush can sponsor a toilet at £25, offer essential support and donate £50 for a lintel, or how about getting together with family, friends and colleagues and donate £250 towards raising our new roof!

“The clock is ticking on our June 30 deadline — giving everyone just 40 days to encourage their families and friends to get behind this final push and raise that last £40,000.

“Together we can do it,” she urged.

Despite failing to meet modern-day expectations, the local hall is still the hub of the pretty Perthshire village.

It acts as the meeting point for the majority of the community’s 30 clubs and associations and a large number of private hire functions throughout the year.

To donate to the appeal and help the village’s plight, log on to www.glenfarg.org and download the ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ sponsorship form on the Village Hall pages or send a cheque made out to Glenfarg Public Hall Association and send to the treasurer, Jean Andrew, Strathaven, Duncrievie, Perthshire, PH2 9PD.