2001 July 26th: With the help our local Fire Safety Officer (West Midlands Fire Service) we carried out a Fire Safety Order Audit at Hilton Hall where we complete a Fire Risk Assessment and identified the type and range of Fire Safety Equipment that we require before opening the Hall once more to the public.  We were also provided with help and guidance concerning fire safety, policies and procedures and found the Audit a most useful and positive step forward for us here at Hilton Hall.

 

2010 July 25th:  Fitter for Walking Leader Training:  several members of the Hilton Hall Volunteer Project & members of the Management Team attended a training day organised by the Wolverhampton Health Authority & Primary Care Trust on behalf of  'Natural England' (promoting Health & Wellbeing through Walking).  All of Our Team gained the national certificate and accreditation as Qualified Walk Leaders.  This will enable the HHCA Team to organise and run their own Fitter for Walking events from the Hilton Hall site.

 

2001 July 15th: Following on from the Wildflower Planters & Green Wood Workshop; the 'Wildflower Planting Workshop' was well supported and proved a great success with 39 young children from Lanesfield Junior School who helped plant the wild meadow flowers.  Expert advice & guidance on planting procedures and practice was provided by Martin Harrison from Black Country Living Landscape (part of the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & the Black Country).  The school children planted Fox and Cubs, Feverfew, Fleabane, Ragged Robin and Knapweed.  And the adult volunteers planted the Foxgloves (because these plants are poisonous).  Funding for this came from Living Streets Charity via Hema Kasi-Patel who is the Regional Co-ordinator for the Fitter for Walking Project - West Midlands.

 

2010 July 2nd to 14th: Jordan's of Lanesfield helped fit the new Fire Exit Steel Doorway and Systems 2000 Door Fitters came down and helped our Hilton Hall Volunteers put in the new Emergency Escape / Fire Exit Doors in.

 

2010 July 1st: A very successful 'Wildflower Planters & Green Wood Workshop' was held at Hilton Hall Community Centre (from 10am until 5pm).  The workshop was run by Craig Wood (and his Team; Tom, Nicky & Jenny) from The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & the Black Country (attended & supported by Martin Harrison - Black Country Living Landscapes and Hema Kasi-Patel from Living Landscapes - Fitter for Walking project for the West Midlands, who funded the whole project).   Under the supervision and guidance of Craig; members of the Hilton Hall Volunteers Project Team helped with some of the days activities.  The workshop was attended by local people and a group of school children (from Lanesfield Primary School) supported by our local Neighbourhood Wardens and a member of the Local Neighbourhood Partnership, who where shown how to make a series of Wildflower Planters from natural materials.  The end result being three marvellous and most robust Oak Green Wood Planters taking up permanent residence in front of Hilton Hall. 

 

2010 June 20th:  Work has started on the New Fire Exit Doors & Steel Security Door Frame. 

 

2010 June 9th: Negotiations are still going on with the Managers at Wolverhampton Homes who are trying to obtain sponsorship from a major national company to provide us with a Free Central Heating Boiler.  So 'fingers-crossed' we should be finding out the outcome of these talks within the next week or so.  We are still very positive about the possibility of getting a Boiler (and installation) soon, and will keep you all informed - so watch this space!

 

2010 June 3rd: Alongside the work that we are doing internally at the Hall, we are organising and launching our 'Hilton Hall Open Spaces Community Project' which is being funded and supported by the National Charity 'Living Streets' through their West Midlands Regional Co-ordinator; Hema Kasi-Patel.  Martin Harrison (Community Involvement Programme Liaison Officer) is working in partnership with Hema & ourselves to produce a 'Wildflower Meadow Rockery Garden' & a series of 'Planters' placed at the front of Hilton Hall.  The intention is to invite Volunteers from local Schools and the Community to get involved and help us with the planting and maintenance work.  Living Landscapes have also agreed to fund and supply a couple of Park Benches for the benefit of our Community.  We are still using the services of our Hilton Hall Volunteers whenever and where ever we can.  We are in negotiations with the Managers at Wolverhampton Homes who are trying to obtain sponsorship from a major national company to provide us with our Central Heating Boiler.  So 'fingers-crossed' and all of that, however, the mood is still very positive with regards to us getting our Boiler installed soon.

 

2010 May 29th: Our New Emergency Exit Platform and Stairs have now been completed and are awaiting painting' & delivery (by Mid-June).  These have been designed and manufactured by LuxTrade Ltd, who have kindly sponsored us by donating this vital piece of equipment to us.  Another local company - Jordan's Ltd - based at the Lanesfield Industrial Estate have agreed to paint the platform, stairs & railings for us, prior to said items being installed.

 

2010 May:  All through the Month of May the Team have been working hard behind the scenes organising, co-ordinating and carrying out work at Hilton Hall, as well as writing 'Grant Bids' to secure funding for various projects at the Hall.  New Toilet furniture has now been purchased and is ready for installation following the successful completion of the 'Tiling & Grouting'.  New energy saving electrical equipment  / lighting has been donated and fitted by a local qualified electrical company.

We have also received Sponsorship from the National Charity 'Living Streets' (via their Regional Development Officer; Hema Kasi-Patel), in the form of equipment that we will help us to maintain the outside areas, and will be used to engage with local schools and the community in Landscaping & Planting projects that we have planned.  In this matter, we are also being helped by Martin Harrison from Black Country Landscapes (who has 'sourced' meadow plants & seeds that are indigenous to this area) with a programme of landscaping / design & planting.  

 

2010 April 7th:  The race is on to organise, co-ordinate and complete the Four Main Jobs now needed to allow the top-half of Hilton Hall to be opened up for Community Use once more.  Latest Jobs being 'Sources' at present are: New Central Heating Boiler/Hot Water system.  New Toilet Facilities (upstairs).  New Emergency Exit Door & Fire Escape Platform & Stairs; and finally to finish-off all of the tidying, last minute painting, fixtures and fittings and sort out stuff like Fire Extinguishers and any other H&S issues & items needed.

 

2010 April 2nd. Good Friday:  Work was carried out by 9 members of our Hilton Hall Volunteer Project who managed to get a great deal of work done in the Main Hall & Toilets / Upstairs Areas.  The damaged plasterwork (on the Main Hall Stage) was repaired, panelled / boarded up and painted.  Low-level windows were removed, 'Panelled-Up' and painted, as were the Walls. 

 

2010 March 19th:  Senior Divisional Director & Regeneration Manager & PR Staff from Thomas Vale Construction Ltd attended the Hilton Hall Community Centre Site, accompanied by the Director of Wolverhampton Homes, met up with the three HHCA Directors for a 'Photo Opportunity' following completion of 'Our New Kitchen'.

 

2010 March 4th: The Kitchen, Entrance Lobby and New upstairs Toilets 'Electrics' have been connected so we now have 'Lights & Power' once more (at least upstairs, that is!).  This was done by a local electrical company based in Lanesfield.  Their details (should you need any electrical work doing) will be posted on our 'Sponsors & Volunteers' page soon.

 

2010 February 28th: Office Ceiling Plaster-boarded today and work commenced on the Landscaping (with help from the Community Payback Project and our Hilton Hall Volunteer Project team).

 

2010 February 23rd: Work commenced on painting the awkward out-side areas of the Hall today.  Starting with the Facia Boards & Soffits.  This job required specialist Scaffolding and the supervised workforce.  Work was carried out by members of our Hilton Hall Volunteer Project and by the Wolverhampton Community Payback Team.  And, finally, we have now erected our NEW SIGN which can be seen from the main Birmingham New Road (the A4123 which is several hundred yards away).

 

2010 February 16th:  The Office ceiling has now been fully Insulated with Silver-Foil 'Space Blankets' filled with 150mm of Fibre Glass Insulation material, and is now awaiting Plaster-boarding and finishing-off (see our progress via the Photographs Link).  The Front Entrance Lobby and upper-floor 'New' Toilet Rooms & Store Room has been painted and is almost ready for the Final-Fix repairs.

 

2010 January 24th:  A more permanent repair was made to the Main Hall Roof by applying a Thermoplastic Fibre Resin based Roofing Paint to the damaged area of the Roof.  The Team of five WYJC Volunteers also carried on the work inside the Hall after finishing on the Roof, painting & fixin' other stuff.

 

2010 January 16th / 17th:  The severe weather conditions that we have all endured over the last three weeks has taken its toll on the Main Hall Roof.  The Roof-Felting (where to Felt-Joints Overlap) had been Frost-Damaged and Lifted by the extreme Sub-Zero temperatures.  The result of this frost damage was discovered when we opened up on Saturday morning (16th Jan.) and found the Roof had leaked Gallons of Snow-melt and the recent Heavy Rains into the Hall. . . All over our newly plastered walls, ceilings and floors.  The ingress of water was considerable and even found its way into the Boiler Room (which has always remained Dry).  Our response was to Re-Bitumen the damaged Roofing Felt Joints as soon as it stopped raining.  We managed to do this on Sunday 17th which fortunately for us was a Dry / Sunny (albeit a Cold Day).  The Three Directors (Debbie, Heather & Keith) worked until 4pm carrying out this Temporary Patch-Repair and hopefully - this will suffice until we can effect a more permanent repair.  (Go to our Photographs Page and click-onto the Main Hall Roof Link to see our temporary repair, or visit our Flickr-Photo-site).

 

2010 January 10th:  Kitchen update: Needed to Complete; one new Electric Cooker, Extractor Hood, Microwave & Fridge.  The Boiler Room has been completely stripped-out of all the old fixtures & fittings and is now ready for new Central Heating Boilers & pipe work to go in (Sponsors Needed Please).  The Office Floor is quite close to completion and has been fitted-out with 100% recycled materials (see our progress on the Photographs page or visit our Flickr Photo site).

 

2009 December 14th:  Kitchen almost completed - with new kitchen units & ancillary electrical fittings, lights & sockets, and painted.  Next Job. . . Finding a suitable Sponsor who is willing to donate the funds or materials to fit-out and finish our DDA Toilets following the plastering work recently carried out.  Also, in December, LuxTrade Ltd - a local fabrication & engineering firm (see 'Other Web-Links) offered to build us a dedicated Fire Escape Platform & Stairs, and New Railings for the Front Entrance Ramp.

 

2009 November 23rd: Following negotiations with several Companies; Thomas Vale Construction Ltd in Partnership with Wolverhampton Homes came to our rescue and have donated their Workers Time and Their Recourses to re-wiring, re-plastering and fitting-out a complete New Kitchen for us.  Work started today and should be finished by Christmas. . .   What a Christmas Present.  We intend to have a proper News Release co-ordinated between Thomas Vale & ourselves, so keep an eye on the local News papers and Radio for details of Who our latest Sponsors are:

 

2009 November 12th: The HHCA Management Team attended a Training Seminar reviewing new Government legislation regarding the Independent  Safeguarding Authority (ISA) that will affect Community & Voluntary Groups (such as ours).  All of the Directors are CRB Checked and now have a Safeguarding & Vetting Policy in place.

 

28th October 2009: Finally (as you can see) we are back online again with our 'NEW LOOK WEB SITE'.  This time with a different Hosting Company and Web Administrator.  Through this web site we will keep you all informed of the latest progress, news and all issues relating to the Hall and Hilton Hall Community Association.

 

2009 October:  We entered into negotiations with several local Companies / Building Contractors asking their help with regards carrying out repairs to the Hall and contacted Wolverhampton Homes to see if & how they could help us with our project.

 

2009 September 17th:  We linked up with 'Fitter for Walking Project' Regional Coordinator for the West Midlands and the Management Committee participated in a Community Street Audit, with the view to identify and set up our very own Hilton Hall / Lanesfield 'Fitter for Walking Project'.  Working in partnership with 'Living Streets' (a national charity) we hope to facilitate, organise and 'Lead Walks' around Hilton Hall Recreation Field and surrounding Open Spaces that lead to the SLINC (Site of Local Importance and Nature Conservation).  For further information contact: Hema on 07595 781 875.

 

2009 September 10th:  'Hilton Hall Volunteer Project' . . . as part a new funding bid, we received a cheque from the Wolverhampton Network Consortium (WNC) as part of the Grass Roots Grants Programme 2008/2009 to the value of £2,204.82 (with another £700 coming available nearer completion of the project).  This will pay for much needed equipment and repairs, but will also enable the Volunteers who are helping us at the Hall to gain valuable experience working alongside and under the guidance and supervision of an experienced engineers / builders.  All of this was made possible due to the help and encouragement of Claire Peake who is the Community Engagement Officer for WNC.  Following a recent Newspaper article asking for Volunteers to help us with the next stage of our project, we were contacted by several local people who have now joined our team of Volunteer Helpers.

 

2009 August:  The Three remaining Directors continued working every day at the Hall all through the Month of August.  We also received notification that we had been successful with our Grass Roots Grant application.

 

2009 July: After a great deal of involvement in the initial negotiations and setting up of HHCA, Richard Lord (Manager of the Wolverhampton Warlords Rugby League Football Club) resigned as a Director of HHCA but expressed his wish to remain as Member of the Association representing the interests of Wolverhampton Warlords Rugby League Football Club.   In July our website went off-Line due to a data-base problem.  The administrator for the web site (Richard Lord) suggested we re-apply for the Domain name & Hosting when it became available for renewal in October 2009.  In late July we put in an application for a 'Grass Roots Grant' funding from the Wolverhampton Network Consortium.

 

2009 June 4th:  The Lease Agreement for Hilton Hall and Playing Fields was finally ‘Signed, Sealed & Delivered’ to Hilton Hall of Lanesfield Ltd by the Wolverhampton City Council.  Day One:  Work commenced on the repairs and renovation to Hilton Hall Community Centre and this work was initiated by the members of the Wolverhampton Youth Judo Centre.  The First job tackled was clearing out the single-story Office/Store on he South-side of the Hall and fixing the damaged Flat Roof.

 

2009 March to May:  HHCA & our Legal Team work through what is acceptable / not acceptable with the Lease agreement, and in anticipation of lease being signed, plans were initiated to determine ‘Priority’ of order for work / actions needed to be taken once the lease is accepted and signed over to us.

 

2009 March 5th: Hilton Hall of Lanesfield Ltd was officially formed and registered with Companies House as our official trading name.  From this date 'Hilton Hall of Lanesfield Ltd' became an official Company Limited by Guarantee.

 

2009 February:  ‘Buy A Brick’ fundraising campaign launched.

 

2009 January:  City Council Property Management Committee agree in principle to a Draft Lease / Service Level Agreement being granted to Hilton Hall Community Association.

 

2008 December:  Following extensive research and the drawing up of a feasible Business Plan, HHCA meet with City Council Officials and deliver HHCA's ‘Schedule of Work’ document, to be presented to the City Council Property Management Committee, who will decide the fate of Hall and consider our ‘Proposal’ to take over the responsibility for Hilton Hall.

 

2008 November:  Further meetings were held discussing future strategy and to identify likely funding streams to help us achieve our Goal.  The Liberal Democrat Councillors Mike Heap, Malcolm Gwinnett & Richard Whitehouse 'Championed' our cause and were 100% behind the whole process and were positively involved in the negotiations between ourselves and the various City Council Departments

 

2008 October:  On the 3rd of October All of the Hilton Hall Groups are given one days notice of the closure of the Hall and informed to remove their equipment & property from the Hall.  Negotiations begin in earnest to stop further action (i.e. to stop the 'Boarding-up' of the Hall).

 

2008 September:  The Judo Club & Rugby Club set up a Community Action Group - Hilton Hall Community Association (HHCA) - and put forward a 'Rescue Plan' to save the Hall from permanent closure.  Several Consultation Meetings were organised to inform local residents and the wider community of our plans for the Hall and to get public opinion & feedback, to identify the way forward.

 

2008 August:  The Judo Club & Rugby Club Managers Meet with Wolverhampton City Council officials to offer a proposal to take over the running and responsibility for Hilton Hall on a long-term lease.

 

2008 July:  Meeting held between Wolverhampton Youth Judo Centre and the Warlords Rugby Club manager to discuss rumours of the closure of Hilton Hall.