Where has all the support gone for our community hall?
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AN IMPASSIONED plea for more people to devote even a few hours a week to help run Keith's busy Longmore Hall has been made.
Chairwoman Rhona Patterson says the shortage of volunteers is now critical.
The well used hall has been run by the community for the last five years since there was an overwhelming local response to a proposal by trustee of the hall Moray Council to shut the facility, which is effectively owned by the community.
Rhona says the hall remains busy and well used by local groups and a range of events – that is not the problem.
However, without more volunteer helpers willing to open up and clean up after events, it will become increasingly difficult to host the same number of events in the hall.
"Covid had a big impact and we kept the hall going with a skeleton crew but numbers for various reasons and when we have tried to recruit we have come up against a brick wall," said Rhona.
She says people who attended meetings to save the hall signed up to back the hall, and that support is desperately needed now more than ever.
"We literally have a handful of people, six at the most, and only two people regularly on hall-keeping duties, which is not sustainable.
"From the population of Keith there have to be a few people who can help us."
The committee is still negotiating with Moray Council over a long-term lease for the hall.
"You have heard the phrase many hands make light work! Unfortunately that’s not the position your community hall is in at the moment.
People do not need to join a committee or commit to long hours – two or three hours a week, or just a few hours a month will make a massive difference if enough people come forward.
"It is not all heavy work lifting tables and chairs, although that is obviously needed at times, but there is lots to do and we genuinely would appreciate any help offered," added Rhona.
She has written to and visited all the user groups in the hall to encourage them to spread the word in the community.
Anyone who feels they can help should contact Rhona Patterson on 07974 778491 or speak to anyone on the committee they know.
