The leaky roof on Constantine’s well-used village hall will be replaced with a brand new one this summer, thanks to a £2,000 donation from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s Community Fund.
The small group of fundraisers from the village WI said they were “bowled over” by the company’s generosity and weren’t expecting anything to come from their application to the Community Fund.
“This donation really was the icing on the cake,” explained Mary Vyvyan, from Constantine WI. “It would’ve taken us a long time to raise that sort of money, and it has enabled us to reach our £7,000 target and finally get the builders in.”
Work on the new roof will take place in the first two weeks of August, replacing the original roof which has been in place for around 60 years.
The WI hall in Constantine, near Falmouth, is a much-loved community facility and used by a number of groups including Gweek Players, Constantine Garden Society, a local history group and craft group, as well as hosting parties.
Mrs Vyvyan said: “It’s a real community hub. I don’t think we realised how much local people thought of the hall until we started asking for money. The response has been quite amazing and we are truly grateful.”
Sam Hicks, Chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s Community Fund, said: “This is exactly the sort of project we want to support – a real community facility. That is what the fund is all about.
“I would encourage anyone thinking of applying to have a look at our website and see the range of projects we have donated to over the past few years. We’ve given away £30,000 so far to 31 different projects, which is really something to be proud of.”
The Community Fund was first launched in 2016 and is part of an estimated £1 million that the Steamship Group returns to the community every year through subsidised travel for islanders, NHS flights, sponsorships and charitable donations.
Entries are now being accepted for the first round of funding in this financial year, with a deadline for entries set as August 13.
Bids to the fund are open to voluntary groups or charities, schools and education establishments, community clubs or societies, and individuals undertaking not-for-profit projects for the benefit of the wider community.
Full details, eligibility criteria and application forms are now available from the Steamship Group’s website. All projects are judged by members of an independent panel.