More than £40,000 has been awarded to a village hall refurbishment project, kick-starting the first phase of work.

Geldeston Village Hall is set to get a much-needed new roof, windows and doors thanks to a £46,240.00 grant from funding body WREN.

The ‘keeping warm and dry’ project is part of a bigger scheme the team behind the work are calling ‘village alive’ which will see further repairs and refurbishment work carried out at the 93-year-old hall.

The money from WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund takes the total raised to £84,000, with a further £6,000 needed to reach the total funds.

Chairman Loraine Loffstadt said the very active community, not only from Geldeston but many outlaying rural villages, is delighted that work can now get under way to secure the hall’s future for years to come.

She said: “It is now showing its age and has never had a major uplift so it is fantastic that WREN are supporting us by making this grant, ensuring that the users will be warm and dry during the many events that are held in the hall.

“This great award kick starts other parts of ‘village alive’, a major refurbishment plan for hall. We can now install our new kitchen - with other funders’ support - and we are very nearly on target to funding the installation of new mobility accessed toilets.

“Watching this take shape over the next few months will be very exciting for the whole community.

“We are so very thankful that WREN have believed in us by supporting our efforts to ensure this well used rural community hall has a long term future. It will now continue doing the job it was built for and that was to provide a centre point for all abilities and ages to have fun.”

Mrs Loffstadt said the project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the planning and conservation officer, parish council, a pro-active committee and support of the community.

The hall will be closed for a short period during the works but regular updates will be posted at www.geldestonvillagehall.co.uk and www.facebook.com/geldestonvillagehall.

A grand opening celebration with WREN and all of the other funders is also being planned.