WI hall in Curridge gets a makeover

CURRIDGE Women’s Institute hall, which has stood proudly in Winterbourne Road since 1923, is undergoing refurbishment.

Work started in January on a £45,882 improvement project to warm up the popular hall, and a grand opening is expected to take place soon.

The corrugated-iron venue is well-used by the local community for a wide range of local events and activities, however, the un-insulated walls and roof meant a constant battle with the elements and a tendency to increase the heating, putting a strain on the hall’s finances.

The project renewed the building’s exterior cladding, insulated the walls and roof of the hall as well as rewiring parts of the building to bring the electrics up to modern day specifications.

It was funded through fundraising events held by Curridge WI members and residents, as well as grants from Chieveley Parish Council, Greenham Common Trust, Awards4All, The Colefax Trust, the Co-operative Society, The Berkshire Masonic Charity and The Veolia Environmental Trust who awarded a grant of £25,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund.

President of Curridge WI, Doreen Handby, said it was great to see the project nearing completion, and thanked everyone who had given their time, money and effort to help Curridge WI achieve their aim for the future of the hall.