Tag: Rickards Hall

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Community News

Edenbridge Games Club continues!

Despite the loss of external funding, the Council has committed to keeping the Games Club running because we know just how much it means to our community.

For many, this weekly gathering has been a lifeline – a place to connect, make friends, and regain confidence after the challenges of the pandemic. With up to 15 regular members, it’s more than just games—it’s laughter, support, and a sense of belonging.

If you’re 55+ and looking for a friendly, welcoming space, come along! Try out a game, enjoy a puzzle, or simply have a chat over a cup of tea.

  • Every Monday
  • 10 am to 12 midday
  • Rickards Hall, off the High Street
  • No booking needed and FREE to attend – just drop in!
  • Refreshments provided

Come and see what it’s all about! And please help spread the word by mentioning it to anyone you think may like to come along.

The Club is run with help from volunteers and our Edenbridge Community Warden.

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Community News

Council agrees continued support for Edenbridge Foodbank

Items of food on table for Foodbank
Rickards Hall building with flower display in foreground

At the January Council meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to continue their support for the vital work of the Edenbridge Foodbank. To assist their incredible efforts in helping local families, the Council will:

  • Provide free use of Rickards Hall every Tuesday morning, offering a warm, accessible space for their services.
  • Allow the Foodbank use of council land for its storage shed, ensuring they have the resources to stock and distribute food effectively.

The Council is proud to support the Edenbridge Foodbank as it makes such a positive impact in our community. Together, we’re building a stronger, more caring Edenbridge.

Edenbridge Foodbank is run as part of the Trussell UK network of foodbanks and supported by all the churches of Edenbridge.

Dave White, Edenbridge Foodbank Project Manager, said: “We are so grateful for the support of the Council and of the local community in so many ways.”

He added: “The foodbank has had another successful year of operation. We work with a number of local referral agencies, such as Citizens Advice, Crosslight, West Kent Housing and Edenbridge Primary School. Clients must obtain a food voucher from one of these agencies before coming to the foodbank centre. If someone doesn’t have a voucher, we will help them and will connect them with an agency to provide ongoing support. In this way, it is hoped that all clients can receive appropriate support and be able to move on from their difficult situation.

“We regularly have representatives from financial advice/money management agencies (eg Crosslight), the Samaritans, Citizens Advice and others on site to give direct support to clients at the centre.”

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Community News

Rickards Hall external maintenance works completed successfully

As part of our planned maintenance programme for this year, significant work has recently been completed on Rickards Hall. Thanks to RJH Projects | Construction & Building Professionals in East Grinstead almost 300 roof tiles have been replaced, new valley tiles have been fitted on dormers, and new gutters have been installed. Two rear walls that were suffering from damp have also been re-pointed with lime mortar, and some of the windows have had new lintels and a lick of paint.

Lime pointing on external walls

But the work doesn’t stop there! We will soon be fitting a new internal fire shutter to the kitchen hatch, and the next phase of maintenance will be to carry out internal redecoration.

We are really proud to look after this wonderful community asset, which is used by many groups such as our Monday Games Club and Edenbridge Brownies. It’s in an idyllic courtyard just off the High Street – a perfect space for events, workshops and celebrations and can be hired out from £22.18 an hour (£11.28 youth activity rate).

check Rickards hall hire info, prices and availability

A new fire shutter has also been installed between the kitchen and hall

kitchen facilities included in hire
Dishwasher and cooker available
Crockery and cutlery provided

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Community News

Rickards Hall – summer availability

With some of our regular groups taking a break over the summer holidays, we’ve got extra availability of Rickards Hall. So, if you’re looking for a venue, do get in touch with us!

rickards hall info, prices and booking
  • Perfect for community events, gatherings and celebrations
  • Hall hire starts from £22.18 an hour (£11.28 youth activity rate)
  • Available weekdays/weekends for daytime/evening hire

Rickards Hall is a wonderful community space for Edenbridge, which we are proud to look after and invest in. It is home to many groups such as our weekly Games Club and Edenbridge Brownies, and is used for dance classes, events, workshops and private celebrations. We recently installed a new cooker and dishwasher for the kitchen, and protected it against wood-boring insects. Roof repairs and re-grouting of the courtyard are also underway and nearing completion.

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Community News Events

Edenbridge commemorates D-Day 80 years on

D-Day was the name given to the 6 June, 1944 invasion of the beaches at Normandy in northern France by allied troops from countries including the United Kingdom during World War II. Historians often refer to it as the beginning of the end of World War II.

The Council was delighted to host two community events for Edenbridge residents to commemorate the 80th anniversary of this historic day.

On 5 June, older members of our community, including those from local care homes, enjoyed an afternoon tea, music and dancing thanks to funding from West Kent Housing Association and Alan Layland.

On 6 June, everyone was invited to attend an evening community event at Stangrove Park for music, food and lighting of the Beacon.

Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation and running of these events, as well as everyone that came along and joined in the community spirit.

Categories
Community News Events

Games Club enjoys classical afternoon tea

Harpist, Margaret Watson
Local residents chat with our former Community Warden
Classical tea
Chairman Cllr Bob Todd thanks volunteers
Chairman Cllr Bob Todd thanks volunteers
Council staff help organise and manage the event
The sun came out over Doggets Courtyard, home to Rickards Hall

Members of our Monday Games Club enjoyed a delightful classical afternoon tea this week thanks to funding via a Better Together Community Mobilisation grant from Sevenoaks District Council. Also invited were other residents in the community who have found their network of friends have changed since the pandemic, and so this provided them an opportunity do something nice after the difficulties of the past few years, and to connect with some new faces.

The club runs every Monday at Rickards Hall (off the High Street next to the Council office) from 10.00 am to 12 pm and is aimed at over 55s. Lots of games are available such as cards, boardgames and jigsaws. It’s a great opportunity to socialise over a cuppa while exercising the brain too! For some of the members, it has been a lifeline and a way to combat loneliness and isolation. One member told us it gives her a reason to get motivated in the morning, “I look forward to it each week and I’ve made some great friends,” she said.

The club is funded through a grant from Involve Kent, and in March 2023 it was recognised with a Certificate of Achievement in the Older Person’s Group at Sevenoaks District Council’s Community & Voluntary Awards. Around a dozen members now come along each week, but new faces are always welcome!

Chairman of Edenbridge Town Council, Cllr Bob Todd, said: “It has been so nice to see people enjoying this afternoon tea with music played by the wonderful harpist Margaret Watson. Being able to host the Games Club in Edenbridge is really important to this Council and is just one of the ways we can support older people and those facing loneliness or living with dementia.”

The club is currently free to attend. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available – sometimes even cake! 

If you would like to contact us about the club you can email information@edenbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk or call the Council office on 01732 865368

Categories
Community News

Grant funds new chairs for Rickards Hall

Cllr Margot McArthur
Rickards Hall available for hire

Thanks to a grant from Kent County Councillor Margot McArthur and Kent’s Combined Members Fund, we have been able to buy some new chairs for our community space at Rickards Hall. They are a big (and much comfier) improvement on the outdated plastic chairs! The Combined Members Grant is a dedicated fund that county councillors have to support local community projects in their area.

Cllr McArthur said: “Rickards Hall is a wonderful asset to our local community – it is used for all sorts of activities and events such as the Monday Games Club for over 55s, the weekly Food Bank and Busy Bees playgroup. It is also available to hire for parties, meetings, clubs and gatherings.

“I am pleased that we have now been able to upgrade the chairs as part of the Town Council’s two-year plan to refurbish and improve the facilities at Rickards Hall.”

rickards hall info & hire prices
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