’It was too cold to craft’ - village hall transformed into warm space

Troon Village Hall in Cornwall, a vital hub for the local community, has reduced its carbon footprint after installing insulation, secondary glazing, LED lighting, a new floor with underfloor heating, an air source heat pump and PV panels on the roof.

The renovations have transformed the hall from chilly, to a warm, ambient temperature. Before, according to the Rev Canon Hilary Samson, Chair of Troon Church Trust, ‘it was too cold to craft’.

Now, the hall is at a lovely ambient temperature. So, more events can happen there, everything from a weekly health and wellbeing session to Alpha and Christian groups, to martial arts groups, a toddlers’ morning, and now regular music shows.

One person who’s already enjoying the hall is 73-year-old Dot Moore (pictured). Though she attended occasional events before the transformation, Dot was put off by the cold and having to wear her coat indoors.

Dot attends the hall twice a week, particularly enjoying the afternoon craft session, as she is a keen seamstress. “It helps me to mix with people, because I live alone,” she said, “and my immediate neighbours keep themselves to themselves. It stops me feeling lonely and I’m making more friends.”

So, how did a small group of people manage to transform the hall in just two years? The answer lies in a series of grants.

In total, £639,786 in grants were raised from the local council, National Lottery, Jubilee Hall Fund and a short-term loan from Truro Diocese which enabled bills to be paid for the capital build whilst waiting for grants to be processed.

Troon Village Hall is just one of the many thousands of church buildings serving as community hubs which host or deliver over 30,000 social action projects annually and support some of society's most vulnerable people.

There is a longer version of this article, and a video, on the Church of England's climate change and environment pages.