Floor plans of the new Hall

The hall will be light, bright, warm (or cool), inviting and able to host three groups at any one time.

The main features will be:

• A main hall, slightly larger than the current one
• A modern, fully fitted kitchen
• Two storage rooms, with the potential to use one as a green room or bar/buffet
• A lift to the upper floor
• WC facilities on ground floor and upper floor
• Two smaller meeting rooms on the upper floor, both with a kitchenette
• Energy-efficiency features: heat pump, solar panels, EV charge points

A village hall has been a central feature of Westcott since 1853. Despite its age, this wonderful space welcomes our community almost every single day, generating enough income to cover normal operations and maintenance. But our beloved hall is reaching the end of its useful life – and when major repairs are needed, the economics will simply not add up.

It is time to look forward and replace the existing hall with a modern, flexible and sustainable building, able to serve our village community into the future.

In a recent Westcott Village Forum survey, a resounding 87% of respondents agreed the hall is vital to them. This is where we come together – to meet, to connect, to celebrate, and to build the bonds that make Westcott so special.

This is OUR Hall – and it clearly matters to many of us.

Will you join us on this exciting journey?

• Over 8,000 visits in 2025
• 840 children celebrated birthdays
• Over 800 fitness class attendances
• Over 1,000 bridge club players

What do we need?

Current projections show an interim financial shortfall beginning in October 2026 and rising to £35,500 before the anticipated land sale in spring/summer 2027.​

This shortfall reflects the fees for the project manager’s essential preparatory work and reports to prepare for hall construction and unlock grant applications. Delaying this work would set back the project, driving up costs through inflation and raising the risk of costly emergency repairs to the current hall.​

As soon as the land sale proceeds are received, the capital grant funding applications can be submitted and we expect grant funding to be completed by spring/summer 2028. When the Trustees have the entire funds required for construction, then the project manager will invite building contractor tenders. Construction is estimated to start in spring/summer 2028 and complete by late 2028.

Donations from our village will send a powerful signal to grant funders that our community is united behind this project.

How can you help?

We need your help. The trust is turning to our village community – asking those who are able to make a donation towards this interim financial shortfall. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference.​

In the 1890s, the Barclay sisters generously endowed our village with the funds that gave us our very first Reading Room – a gift that has served generations. Today, we have the same extraordinary opportunity to invest in our community’s future. This is our moment. This is our turn!​

If we raise over the target of £35,500 the funds will be placed in the Common Investment Funds savings account which is designed specifically for Charitable organisations and will be used for subsequent stages of the redevelopment.

How to donate

Donations are welcome in the following ways:

By bank transfer:

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JustGiving:

https://checkout.justgiving.com/c/3970157

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Sponsorship opportunities

We are offering a number of sponsorship packages, depending on the level of donation. Please get in touch with us to discuss.

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