Shilbottle Village Forum

The Shilbottle Village Forum is developing the site of a neglected welfare hall whilst holding fundraising activities to keep interest alive. Initiatives include refurbishment and development of play areas, a revival of the village gala, a mass planting of bulbs through a "Blooming Shilbottle" project, regular family events, lunches for the over sixties, promotion of the arts, youth initiatives, creating a village co-operative and many more.

Shillbottle is a village of about 600 houses, with a population of around 2000 people.  It used to be a pit village, until the mine closed in the 1980s.  Shillbottle Village Forum was set up in 1998 as an umbrella organisation for groups and individuals who are trying to improve the village.  They have successfully worked on several projects including environmental improvements and the Shillbottle Village Cooperative Store.  The village shop was going to close and a valuable practical and social resource would have been lost, so almost all of  the villagers clubbed together and bought shares in the shop and agreed that any profits made should be put back into running it. Three years later,  the shop is a real success, it is now employing a manager and four part time staff all from the village. 

Shilbottle currently has a welfare hall comprising a large hall, a couple of meeting rooms and changing rooms. Current activities that go on there include indoor bowls, social events,  junior youth club and other community activities. The building sits right next to the recreation ground and the local primary school. It was put up about 20 years ago and is now falling into significant disrepair.

The Glass-House  attended a meeting with members of both Shilbottle Village Forum and the Welfare Hall committee, to develop a programme for the project and to discuss ways of involving the wider community. The group were awarded £1268 cash grant as a follow up grant from previous support to cover planning application costs. The Glass-House also helped to write an action plan, to identify key actions that need to be undertaken in order to make the project happen.   

All the activists on the village hall action group are volunteers involved in other jobs and activities. Consequently there is a great need for professional mentors and guides through the minefield of community consultation, preparation of plans, planning applications and funding applications.

The Shilbottle Village Forum was formed in 1998 with the aim of identifying the specific needs of the village and seeking funding to rectify many of the problems in the area. The group decided to set up a special group within the village forum to carry out a consultation process. The vehicle chosen for the consultation was 'Planning for Real', a tool developed to ensure maximum participation. 

The Shilbottle Village Forum has developed into a body which works actively within the community, supporting groups, raising morale, and building self-esteem and independence through many varied activities. This has enabled groups and individuals to become self-reliant and have the confidence to fulfill their potential and to achieve their goals.

The village forum is very keen to involve the wider community in developing the brief for the building and working with the architect to develop the designs.

Buildings