A VILLAGE hall in Worcestershire is celebrating a cash windfall that will help turn it into a real focus of the community.

The Cropthorne and Charlton Village Hall has been awarded £336,866 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The money will be used on a project that will restructure the layout and refurbish the main hall to provide a kitchen, meeting room, toilets and entrance lobby.

Once complete, the hall will provide facilities for the Women’s Institute, sports and social clubs, youth groups, education, office facilities, citizens advice, MP and councillors’ surgery.

Jacqui King, chairman of the village hall management committee, said: “We are delighted with our Big Lottery funding which will really benefit people of both villages and the surrounding area. Our old village hall will be transformed into a multi-use community centre with room for lots of different activities and services. There’s even space for a much-requested shop.”

The hall was one of 13 across the West Midlands to get a share of more than £4 million with Cookley Village Hall, Kidderminster, also benefitting from the receipt of £264,000.

John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund West Midlands head of region, said: “These buildings are meant to be at the centre of daily life for many people. But in many communities, the halls and centres have either fallen into disrepair or are no longer suitable for modern needs.

“Today’s grant awards give a boost to local residents by helping them develop a place a where they can meet, get advice or service, learn or play, right in the heart of their town or village.”