Wolverhampton Warlords would like to bring your attention to the following appeal that has been launched to secure its own premises for Rugby League in Wolverhampton for the next generation and years to come.
The Warlords play on the Playing Fields attached to Hilton Hall, Lanesfield - the community hall that was closed down in October by Wolverhampton City Council due to safety concerns. The building had been damaged by fire and smoke two years ago, and had not been maintained properly by the council since then. The changing areas had been closed for use at that time, but the community hall was still available for us to use to get changed in - but without shower facilities.
Hilton Hall Community Association has been set up to raise the funds, materials and labour required to renovate and update the Hilton Hall Community Centre up to todays standards. The Council has agreed to draw up a long term lease for the Hall and Playing Fields to Hilton Hall Community Association commencing from April 2009. To complete all the work, and if we were to pay for all the work would cost £150,000 though we are hopeful of reducing that figure through donations of materials and labour.
The association - HHCA, which are applying for charitable status, consists of the Warlords, Wolverhampton Youth Judo Centre, Lanesfield Tennants & Residents Association, Senior Citizens Bingo Club, and the Senior Citizens Tea Dancers. The aim of the Association is to maintain the facility firstly up to a useable state, and then over a stipulated time period up to todays standards. We have already had offers of assistance of free labour from a number of local professionals - builders, plumbers, electricians, etc... and offers of donated materials too.
It is hoped that we will be opening the Hall and Changing Rooms for use by mid-summer 2009, if we can get things rolling on schedule for an April 2009 handing over of keys and getting started on the work that needs doing.
We are appealing to Rugby League fans across the country to help us with this project as we believe it will be the foundation stone of the development work that Wolverhampton Warlords RLFC wish to do over the years to come, youth development, introducing newcomers to the oval ball, raising the profile and participation levels of the sport within the different cultures and nationalities within Wolverhampton, and to get more people involved in this sport of ours.
We are asking for people to donate £10 towards our restoration fund and by doing so ‘Your Name’ or 'Club Name' will be added to one of the ‘Bricks’ on our ‘Donations Wall’ – this is where we will officially ‘Thank You’ for donating money towards this vital rescue fund, thereby helping us to save Hilton Hall from permanent closure.
We hope that many different clubs throughout the Rugby League community would recognise the potential benefits of the Hilton Hall Community Association Appeal and be willing to assist us. If you are unable to assist financially, please may I ask that you publicise this within your club / business and to other people who may be able/willing to assist.
For futher details of the Appeal scheme, and how to donate either by post or via PayPal, please visit
http://www.hiltonhall.com
