Statement on Village Hall and School Relationship

In October 2024, the school decided to stop using the village hall, citing the need for exclusive access to the whole building to better provide for the school children. While we understand the school's requirements, these are not compatible with our charitable purpose, which is to provide and maintain a public hall, recreation ground, and ancillary facilities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Grampound and Creed.

For example, the shop has been using storage space and toilet facilities in the changing rooms for the past 10 years. This is an area of the hall that the school has never used and has been sealed off from the area that the school does use.

The safeguarding and education of the children who attend the school are not the responsibility of the hall. However, we are committed to offering access to the hall’s facilities for the school.

In October 2024, we proposed continuing the secure internal perimeter that had been agreed with the school earlier in the year. Additionally, we have offered to explore the installation of an electronic lock system on the main hall entrance, but we have not yet received the specifications from the school.

Next Steps for Collaboration:

1. Further Meetings with School Representatives: We will schedule further meetings with the school to discuss their specific safeguarding requirements and how we can accommodate them within the hall's facilities. We have formally met three times with the school to date.
2. Review of Electronic Lock System: We will work with the school to explore a system that may address some of their requirements. We have no objection to the school installing such a system.
3. Community Feedback: We will seek feedback from parents and community members to ensure that our solutions are beneficial for everyone involved.

We remain dedicated to finding solutions that support both the school and the wider community while adhering to our charitable purpose.

Dean Jenkins, Chair, on behalf of the hall committee.