Newsletter : January 2021
2020 started off so well !!! On New Year’s Day we hosted the “Beach Walk” lunches so the lounge was full of cheery people. Then followed the usual winter bookings - Yoga, Spinning, Badminton, Indoor Games, Bowls /Knit and Natter, Coffee Mornings, Church events, meetings, etc. etc. (all well attended). “Burns Day” lunches were again a hit.The Durness Bus Co. held a 2 day course for drivers at which we provided lunches, we had a Bingo Evening in conjunction with the Youth Club, a Bring and Buy Sale and the Countryside Ranger took up residency in the “office” adjoining the lounge, sharing a space already used by the Development Group.   And Indoor Sports Club Membership had swelled.
Then came lockdown ! That was it until mid July ! So we lost some sizeable events in this period including the “Marty Cycle”, Cape Wrath Challenge, Highland Gathering dance plus 3 “entertainment” bookings, School PE, Youth Club etc. but were lucky enough to receive the government small business grant of £25,000 which offset any problems with lost revenue. The “caretakers” took this opportunity to give the Hall a good clean and tidy up and put things in “their own places” as much as possible.
By mid July retail outlets were allowed to open and it so happened that Joe Williamson’s “Outdoor Clothing” sale was booked in, which could go ahead. With Gyms allowed to operate, Spinning started as normal in September and continued almost twice weekly until just before Xmas. Indoor Bowls Clubs were allowed to function so the bowlers got started, (slightly different format from previous years but still happening) and although “Knit and Natter” couldn’t run alongside Bowls as in the past because of the restrictions, cafes were allowed to operate so “Chatty Café” was tried and seemed popular.
The “Bonus Ball” restarted another year in August so as we pass the half way stage, there are some unsold numbers on offer at £26 (ie. £1 a week) !! This is a good Fundraiser for the Hall – with fundraising always a necessary. The “Book Borrowing” scheme (in the foyer) is a much smaller but useful and easy to manage fundraiser. (With the variety of books, DVDs etc on offer it could prove invaluable in “lockdown times” !)
The Heating was last serviced in August 2019 when it was found to be on its last legs – fortunately it is still turning over keeping the building functioning comfortably but will need to be totally replaced in the near future. The estimate received for such work was approx. £32,000 so one good reason for a need to keep fundraising.
So as we end 2020 more restrictions are looming so the Village Hall is not back to normal, but it will be still available when the time comes.