£20k target to help safeguard Eglinton Community Hall

Eglinton Community Hall has been the base for a range of vital services in the village for almost 20 years.

However, like many community organisations and facilities it has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. The hall at 40 Main Street has been temporarily closed as a result of the health emergency.

But the centre is now urging members of the public to support a crowdfunding effort to help it get back on its feet.

The aim is to raise £20,000 in order to safeguard the vital services provided in the hall during and after COVID-19.

“Eglinton Community Hall is struggling to open up again. We are exploring many avenues to build our resilience and make our services sustainable again.

“To make this happen we have applied to the Aviva Community Fund with a crowdfunding idea. We would so appreciate the support of the community in Eglinton to reach the target of £20,000. This will allow Eglinton Community Hall to continue to provide our valuable services in our rural village during and after COVID-19,” said Saoirse Fanning, Voluntary Community Secretary at Eglinton Community Centre.

The hall’s story began in 1995 when the site and a small bungalow were donated to the community by local businessmen Patrick and John McGinnis.

A portable cabin was added and the hall, as it is known today, was opened in March 2001. Over the past two decades the hall has provided a great breadth of services and facilities in the village.

Young and old have used it for family gatherings, dance, drama, aerobics, music and the local youth club.

“Eglinton Community Hall has always been able to sustain itself over the last 20 years and has helped out the local community during the flooding in 2017.

“During the COVID-19 emergency since March this year we have worked closely with Eglinton Churches Together to support vulnerable, isolated people with shopping and medication.

“We had our village Disney Parade to cheer up the children during lockdown and have continued with some online classes. This period has left us in great difficulties in trying to open up again as we have had no rental income for almost six months now,” said Ms. Fanning.

The Eglinton Community Hall Crowdfunding page went live last week and will remain open until October 14. If you can afford to contribute visit: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/eglinton-community“We would so appreciate the support of the local community to help us fundraise, bring staff back and help support services for the future,” said Ms. Fanning. Due to the social distancing requirements necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus it will be a challenge to provide the wide array of services at the hall compared to before.

“Many adaptations will be needed to class sizes and numbers. We wish to keep support, advice, physical activity, children’s activities and older people’s activities available in the heart of Eglinton,” said Ms. Fanning.