£1m revamp gives derelict hall second lease of life

A FORMER miners' welfare building which fell into near dereliction will be given a new lease of life later this week as a community centre.

The Rockingham Community and Welfare Hall, in Sheffield Road, Hoyland Common, near Barnsley will be handed over to the Forge Community Partnership at a ceremony on Friday.

The building has been totally refurbished, with the 1m cost covered by the Big Lottery Fund under the Government's Community Assets scheme.

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Michael Sanderson, chairman of the Forge Partnership, said the plan was to bring new people on board as well as the groups which previously used the building and neighbouring sports ground.

Mr Sanderson said: "The signs for the future are very encouraging.

"There is already a huge amount of interest in the re-opening of the building, which is in an excellent location for community use.

"The building has a hall which can seat 200 people with a stage, and we are hoping it will host productions by local drama groups as well as functions such as tea dances and dance classes.

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"There is also a bar area and an attached space which we will be kitting out with computers. It is hoped that there will be training courses in IT run for people from the surrounding villages."

The Forge Community was offered the 25-year lease on the complex after Barnsley Council won the refurbishment money. At Friday's event, the contracts will be officially signed.

Mr Sanderson said: "We will be looking to increase the range of sporting activities on offer. Football and cricket are already there, and we would like to start athletics and activities for young people.

"We have already been approached by a group who would like to do archery on the site, and we would like to encourage as wide a range of community uses on the site as possible."

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The Forge Partnership is one of several community partnerships run across Barnsley by volunteers who work to provide facilities for their community. Forge already runs several other projects in the Hoyland area.

Barnsley's Coun Linda Burgess added: "I'm delighted to say that the community hall has been refurbished; returning it to its former condition when it was a central part of the community, full of activity.

"There will be much to enjoy, ranging from sport, play and education facilities to job guidance and conference rooms."

Guests invited to Friday's ceremony include Invited guests include Barnsley Council leader Steve Houghton, deputy leader Jim Andrews, Mick Clapham MP and a representative from the Big Lottery Fund.

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