Can you tell us a little about your organisation, what inspired you to start, and its role within the local community?
The Llangain Memorial Hall had outlived its original purpose, with substantial investment needed to ensure its facilities could meet the needs of a village whose population had grown significantly over the past twenty years and continues to increase. With no financial reserves available, demolition and complete rebuilding were not viable options.
Aware that grants and public funding were unlikely to be available for major improvements, the hall committee faced the daunting challenge of adapting a building constructed in the 1960s to meet both current and future community needs. Redevelopment and repurposing therefore became essential, creating a more flexible facility capable of serving a wide range of age groups in a village that has lost its Post Office, church, and pub in recent years. The Memorial Hall remains the village’s only public asset, but the committee recognised that, in its renewed form, it would also need to be financially sustainable and capable of supporting itself for the long term.
How has the UK SPF supported your organisation and what specific improvements or changes have you been able to make with the funding?
With the support of the County Council’s Bureau, the committee secured sufficient funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to begin the redevelopment of the hall. Although the funding awarded fell short of the amount originally hoped for, it has enabled a significant transformation of the building.
The hall’s exterior has been completely revitalised and now presents a far more welcoming appearance, complemented by an attractive new extension that will eventually house a café once the wider redevelopment programme is complete. The extension is already being put to extensive use, hosting weekly coffee mornings and attracting increased attendance, providing early evidence of the positive impact the improvements are having on community engagement.
What impact has this project had on the local community so far and how have they responded to the services/improvements you've made?
The project has attracted considerable interest and attention, and the visible progress already achieved has generated growing enthusiasm among clubs and community groups both within the village and beyond. The active and committed committee has also introduced a programme of rotating street food vendors, who regularly set up outside the hall. This initiative has drawn many residents to the site who might not otherwise have attended activities taking place inside the building.
As a result, the hall has become an informal gathering place, creating valuable opportunities for committee members to engage directly with the community, particularly with families and younger generations of villagers. These interactions have helped strengthen community connections and broaden awareness of the hall’s role and potential.
The next phase of the hall’s redevelopment is expected to commence in September, supported once again by the advice and assistance of the County Council’s Bureau, together with a substantial grant from the Welsh Government.
The new extension provides an attractive space and convivial atmosphere for senior residents to socialise for a cup of coffee and a chat. HUB has seen an increase in the number of people attending as a result. – Mrs. Glenys Altman (HUB convener)
