Bolton Church hall supporters aim to raise £50k to stay open

The fundraiser is expected to help modernise the kitchen and the toilets, as well as other upgrades at Walmsley Community Hall.

Some of the fundraising initiatives have included a family quiz night, coffee morning, and a ladies gift evening.

Nicola Kate Collinson, runs Active Afterschool and uses the hall for the breakfast and afterschool club.

Childcare with Active Afterschool

As part of efforts to help, she has set up a Facebook Marketplace page to raise money, and has raised around £850 so far.

She said: “It’s going better than I could have imagined. Anything we can raise for it is brilliant, and everyone has been so supportive. We need to look after these community places, because if we don’t we could lose them. This is our big push to keep it open really.”

The hall has been an integral part of the area since 1986, with the new Christ Church Walmsley being built in 1839.

The hall is home to after-school clubs, play groups, luncheon clubs and more.

Walmsley Community Hall from outside the path

Howdens Joinery have donated an entirely new kitchen, along with appliances, as well as agreeing to fit this too.

Hall manager Gemma Gardiner has said that the amount of repairs needed is about five years worth, due to it being such an old building.

She added: “This is important for the community, which helps not only raise money, but brings people together. We need to cherish the buildings we have got and work together to invest while we still have them. It would mean a great deal to see the community come together for a building which has supported them in so many ways.”

Fundraising has collected around £5k so far. Anyone interested in purchasing items can find more on their Marketplace Facebook page. Donations are also being sought.

Christmas Light Switch-on 2021