AN APPEAL to raise £10,000 for a community hub has exceeded its target with three days to spare.

The Crowdfunder campaign to save St Mary's Church House Hall reached its fundraising target this week.

The campaign was launched in March in an attempt to recover some of the losses recorded by the church hall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

St Mary's Church House Hall, located next to St Mary's Church on South Street, Bridport has seen a 70 per cent drop in hire income and a 40 per cent drop in reserves over the past year.

Prior to the pandemic, the hall tended to be busy and thriving, hosting regular activities including yoga, slimming, bingo, music, dance, antiques fairs and more. As a result of Covid and the tightened restrictions, the hall was closed for a total of 235 days in 2020 and for the first three months of 2021.

Charitable trust, Power to Change, contributed an additional £5,000 to the campaign last week. However, the funding was granted under the condition that the church hall met its £10,000 target by Monday, May 10.

When the campaign came to a close on Monday, it had managed to raise £10,210 for the hub.

Monty Crook, chairman of the hall, said: "I am thrilled to report that the Crowdfunder appeal for St Mary's Church House Hall has just exceeded its target of £10,000, three days early.

"Sincere thanks from all of the committee to all those generous folk near and far who got us over the line and demonstrated how much this community hub has been valued."

Although the building is owned by the Magna Housing Association, the hall itself is now leased to a registered charity - St Mary’s Church House Hall Trust - and is run by a management committee of volunteer representatives.

The trustees are responsible for all internal upkeep of the hall - even when closed this still includes insurance and utilities, along with the cleaning, maintenance and repair associated with an old building. All income derives from hiring out the hall.

The hall will hold its AGM in a Covid-safe manner at the hall on 5.15pm on Friday, May 21.

Those who would like to attend should notify the Mr Crook on 01308 423442 or email monty3dayslate@yahoo.co.uk.