Mile End Road, Colchester CO4 5DY Tel: 07518 437 488

Sponsor Partners	Roll the Credits	Press Cuttings	Progress Reports

Myland Parish Halls, built in 1871 as the local School, have been in constant use for many years, serving the local community – and were comprehensively modernised and extended in 2009 to meet the increasing needs and expectations of our growing community. The area we serve (Braiswick, New Braiswick Park, Mile End, The Myle, Northern Approaches, Northfields, Romans, St. James Park, Severalls, Turner Rise and Turner Village) is planned to more than double in size and will continue growing, well beyond 20,000 residents. The Halls had been extended and modernised at various times in the past, and were in dire need of upgrading. The main drawback was that there was just one toilet block, so it was only possible to hire the Halls to one Group at a time. Heating was rudimentary and expensive; the accommodation was fairly primitive, and whilst the building itself is structurally sound, it was in poor decorative order. It was clear that the building would be unable to serve the increasing needs of the community, and that there were no other local Halls suitable for expansion.

We began planning and fundraising in 2002; plans were drawn up with the assistance of a local architect; development funding enabled us to draw up detailed plans in 2007; fundraising was complete by early 2009, and the Halls closed for building works in May 2009. They re-opened in January 2010.

We are immensely grateful to everyone who has been part of the Project and helped us in such tangible ways - with donations, fundraising events and practical help. The total funds raised for the project exceed half a million pounds! Within this figure are grants from local groups, organisations, individuals, companies and charities; the largest funder has been the Big Lottery Fund's Community Buildings Programme, which awarded us a Development Grant of £25,000 and then a Project Grant of £385,000.

The Project was undertaken by a first-rate Contractor and was overseen by an excellent Professional Team. We invite you to click on the links above, to see details of our Sponsors, Contractors and Professionals, and to re-live the Project from our Progress Reports and Press Cuttings.

Myland Parish Halls are part of St. Michael's Church, Registered Charity no. 1130020

and a member of the Rural Community Council of Essex

& Community Matters (The National Federation of Community Organisations)