about us

Hilton Hall Community Association is a Voluntary Community Interest & Social Enterprise Group willing to commit time, money and resources needed to 'Save & Develop' this vital community building and community asset.  The main driving force behind this community based project, right from the start, has been the Judo Coaches and Managers of Wolverhampton Youth Judo Centre (WYJC).  Their commitment and perseverance has paid off - ensuring the continued future use of the Hall and Playing Fields for the benefit of the whole Community.

A brief history of how this came about:

WYJC have been one of the longest serving hirers of Hilton Hall, with a Club-base being at Hilton Hall since 1976.  However, in October 2008, Hilton Hall was closed by the City Council due to the lack of Council funds necessary to carry out the extensive repairs and maintenance work needed due to the poor condition of the building and facilities.

In October 2008, a Community Action Group was formed (from local residents & hirers of the Hall) with the sole purpose of saving Hilton Hall Community Centre from permanent closure and immanent demolition, and to secure its place in the community for the benefit of future generations. 

Wolverhampton Youth Judo Centre (WYJC) have been one of the main hirers of Hilton Hall since 1976 and therefore it is no surprise that the Senior Judo Coaches & Managers of WYJC became the main driving force behind the take-over bid for Hilton Hall.  WYJC 'Teamed-up' with a local Rugby Club Manager to explore a potential 'take-over bid' for the Hall.

Between October 2008 and December 2008 a series of 'Community Consultation Meetings' took place to explore the 'Way Forward' for Hilton Hall.  Following this; there were several months of negotiations between the City Council Property Management Team and ourselves on the Terms & Conditions of a long-term 'Service-Level-Agreement' / Lease.  During this period HHCA officially registered with Companies House and the 'Lease' was finally signed, sealed and delivered to us on the 4th June 2009.  This whole process was supported & helped along by our Local Spring Vale Ward Liberal Democrat Councillors; Mike Heap, Malcolm Gwinnett & Richard Whitehouse.

Since June 4th 2009, Keith, Debbie & Heather (the three Directors of HHCA) have carried out the majority of the work at Hilton Hall (helped by a small but dedicated group of volunteers, friends & family members from WYJC).  The Directors (who are also unpaid volunteers) have 'Project Managed' the whole programme of work at Hilton Hall (right from June 2009 to this present time) and are still 'on-track' and 'on target' with regard completing much of the 'Phase One / Year One' work listed in our Schedule of Works, however, there is still much to do.  We are optimistic that we can get the Main Hall / Upstairs Areas open this year, and we are working hard, virtually every day to achieve our goal for a late summer opening.

The process has been helped along the way by the support and sponsorship by many local & national companies as well as by our 'Hilton Hall Volunteer Project' funded by the Wolverhampton Network Consortium.  We have been helped along the way by various groups such as; the Wolverhampton Community Payback Scheme, Living Streets, The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & the Black Country (& the Black Country Living Landscapes Project).

As of mid-July 2010, our three remaining jobs to do before we can open are in the final stages of preparation.  The Central Heating Boiler is scheduled for installation at the end of July.  The new Fire Escape should also be finished by the second week in August and the DDA Toilets should be completed and fully functional by the end of August, which means once the general tidying-up process has been completed and the final checks and adjustments have been made, we very much hope the Hall will be ready o re-use again by September / October 2010.

As ever, to achieve our Goal of re-opening the Hall this year, we still need to secure MORE FUNDING, MORE VOLUNTEERS, MORE SPONSORS and MORE SUPPORT from the local Community to help us achieve our task in the timescale suggested above.  Please check-out our progress via our photographs page & other pages above to get some idea of the amount of work and effort that has been put in by everyone involved in our Hall Rescue Plan.   

Our Objects are:

"To further or benefit the residents of Lanesfield and the neighbourhood without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions, by associating together in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for sport, recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. . . " (article 3 of the Memorandum of Association - Hilton Hall Community Association)