Chester-based Community Centre receives funding support to renovate Victorian building

Major renovation work on the roof, ceiling and walls of the 130 year-old Campbell Hall in Boughton, Chester has been successfully completed totalling around £35,000 in cost.

This follows a significant water leak from the roof leading to extensive water damage of the walls and ceiling.

The Campbell Hall supports the local community by providing facilities for a number of local groups and organisations including City Church, Soul Kitchen, Campbell Hall Homeless Drop In supported by St Luke’s Church, Chester Fenix CIC, Aisatsu Karate Club, Songbird Music Group, the Rock Project for young people’s music tuition group and the Monday Yoga class. In particular, it provides support to the homeless, young people and those who are marginalised in the local community.

The work was supported by nearly £15,000 of funding support from a variety of sources. This included grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Members budget, and Benefact Trust, along with donations from the congregations of City Church who meet and worship in the Campbell Hall, and St Luke’s Church, Huntington, who are Trustees of the Hall. Donations of materials were also generously provided by the Dulux Paint Centre, B&Q and Hoole Bridge Supplies, all based in Chester.

The work repaired damage to the Hall’s ceiling and walls caused by water damage, and renovation work was carried out to the roof to prevent future water ingress and was carried out by Chester-based M&M Property Maintenance.

John Leake, Chairman of the Campbell Hall Management Committee, said:

“We have been overwhelmed by the generous and widespread support that we have received from national trust funds, our local councillors, local church congregations and businesses in Chester. It confirms how important this historical centre is for the city of Chester. The Campbell Hall has a long-standing commitment to providing facilities to support our local community, particularly those who are in greatest need - the homeless, the lonely and marginalised, and our young people”

On behalf of the three councillors for Chester City and the Garden Quarter ward, Councillor Paul Chamberlain said: "We were delighted to use our Members' Budget allocations to support a building in the Boughton area of our ward which provides a home for so many organisations providing essential services in our community."

Helen Anthony MBE, Chair of Soul Kitchen said:

"The Campbell Hall allows Soul Kitchen to offer a warm and welcoming safe space for those who are homeless, marginalised, lonely and/or suffering from food poverty in Chester. From the Hall we can provide hot meals, shower facilities and support to the most vulnerable in Chester."

The Campbell Hall in Boughton Chester is a registered charity. It was originally established as a charitable trust in 1896 by Mrs Campbell, the wife of the Reverend Campbell, vicar of St Pauls Boughton. It was established to serve the local community and that of Chester as a whole. It was significantly refurbished in 1994/95 and since then has been used extensively by churches and groups working with families, children and youth, the homeless, the marginalised and people struggling with mental health issues. The Parochial Church Council of St Luke’s with St Paul’s Church in Huntington are the trustees of the Campbell Hall.