On Saturday the 12th of October, Wickhambreaux village hall hosted it’s bi-monthly ‘social Saturday’.
The event was a free soup lunch, which was run by volunteers from 12-1:30, attracting between 70-100 residents from the parish and surrounding villages.
Typically, these ‘social Saturday’ events are coffee mornings; however, in October, volunteers served a choice of 3 soups, breads rolls, cheese, and apples.
The soups were cooked collectively by 5 local volunteers and local farmer Martin Twyman supplied the apples from his orchard.
Wickhambreaux is a village situated on the outskirts of Canterbury with a population of around 550 people – a great deal of whom are elderly or vulnerable.
Many of these residents relied on village events to get outside and see friends, during the Covid lockdowns these were the people who suffered the most.
According to Lucy Rushbrooke, chairperson of the village hall committe, “the intention” of ‘social Saturday’ “is to bring local residents together in a warm convivial environment.”
Mrs Rushbrooke explained that “The committee believes that this is precisely the purpose of our hall!”
She went on to say, “I believe that, together with a church and pub, Village Halls are – or should be – the beating heart of rural communities.”
“They provide a tangible space for community events and gatherings and from this comes intangible benefits of mutual support, friendships and real-life social networks.”
The Covid-19 pandemic forced many village halls and community spaces to close due to their lack of use – some remain closed to this day.
Covid created a ‘dissociated’ society, with many people hardly knowing their neighbours.
Events like Wickhambreaux’s ‘social Saturday’ are an essential part of rebuilding the sense of community and connection we all lost because of lockdown.
They encourage residents to not only leave their homes and explore their parish, but to get to know and look out for those around them, building a more caring society.
However – like everything in this world – these events cannot take place without funding.
Wickhambreaux village hall requires funding to maintain and renovate the building into a functional space fit for community gatherings; therefore, at events like ‘social Saturday’ attendees are encouraged to donate towards the upkeep of the hall.
Recently, the committee had to repair the roof over the WC block and school store cupboard.
They also refurbished the WCs, making them wheelchair friendly and increasing the prospects of the hall being hired out for external events.
Mrs Rushbrooke explained that “The building is more than 100 years old and there are many bits and pieces that need doing.”
She expanded, explaining that “all these things are expensive, and we can only achieve them by sourcing funding from external sources.”
Wickhambreaux’s next ‘social Saturday’ will be held in mid-December, with Christmas-themed activities and goodies for all residents.
