Hire, hire!
(Church premises available for room bookings)
Perhaps you have wandered into the premises and found strangers using the kitchen? It's not widely known that our Church premises can be hired by outside groups, providing we ourselves are not needing them.
Over the past year ten groups have regularly used
our rooms. Some, such as the Robert Bamber Singers, make use of them on a
weekly basis; the Maguire Support Group come fortnightly, and I'm sure you're
all familiar with the Music Examining Boards being on the premises at the end
of
each term. Other groups are accommodated on an occasional basis.
Groups from the NHS or Social Services find the Parlour or, sometimes, the main hall more than adequate for training purposes. The Parlour is particularly popular and admired, and is often specifically requested. Our charges are very reasonable and are in line with similar organisations. Use of the kitchen is included in the charge. We have three pricing levels and, as you would expect, a commercial rate is the highest: Rhythm and Rhyme, a toddlers' music group, held in the Library on a Monday morning, is an example. Then there's a community rate paid by groups within the community e.g. Health Visitors, and charitable groups can either pay a lower rate per hour, or make a donation, which ever they feel is right for them. The Priory Art Group returns in November as they like our hall for exhibiting their paintings; charges for this are by the day— as they are for the music exams.
The hall is also used for a considerable number of children's parties, and sometimes the Library as well. As rubbish disposal can be a problem, parents are requested to bring black plastic bags and to take any resultant rubbish home. No one has yet refused!
All groups are obliged to read and sign a duplicate Licence: under this they agree to pay the appropriate amount, to leave the room(s) they have used clean and tidy, and to ensure that the buildings are secure when they leave. This is most important. User groups must understand our Safeguarding Children Policy and the Health and Safety guidelines. Any key which is borrowed must be signed for.
This past year we have, unfortunately, lost two regular weekly bookings; both were due to unforeseen circumstances. At certain times our premises aren't big enough for all our needs. However, in the day time more occasional bookings could be accommodated— especially as the Library is now available more frequently.
