latest news page

2010 July 29th: The Floor Tiles in the new DDA Toilets have now been laid and the area is now ready for the toilets furniture to be installed and the plumbing & pipe work to begin (check-out the photographs above).  Please note: the Night Bat Walk advertised above has had to be re-scheduled for the following week (check-out the 'Bat-Nite-Walk' link above for details).

2010 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.

2001 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 and his Team; 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 26th: Work began on Saturday morning and continued throughout Sunday & Monday preparing the foundations for the new Fire Escape Platform which was finally bolted in-place on Monday afternoon (28th).

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 repair work we are doing internally, we have also launched our 'Hilton Hall Open Spaces Community Project'.  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.  This project is also supported and in partnership with Black Country Living Landscapes via Martin Harrison (Community Involvement Programme Liaison Officer).  Work has commenced on the Landscaping of the front outside areas of Hilton Hall with a 'Wildflower Meadow Planting' project.  the idea being to plant hardy native wildlife varieties of flowers to form a Rockery style garden area. Living Streets have also agreed to pay for a couple of Park Benches and for some Large 'Flower Planters' for the benefit of all those using Hilton Hall 'Open Spaces & Playing Fields'.

2010 29th May:  Our New Emergency Exit Platform has been completed, awaiting 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 install the platform for us.

2010 13th May:  We managed to secure sponsorship from a Worcester based eco-lighting specialist who not only came along to do a 'Free' Site Survey (to identify our needs), but also supplied Low Carbon / Eco-friendly  electrical lighting equipment & fittings and supplied a qualified contractor (Stuart Lees *see other web links) to carry out the valuable installation work on this new lighting system.

2010 22nd April:  Work has continued on the upstairs toilet areas and our team of Volunteers have now 'Tiled & Grouted' the walls in readiness for the Floor Tiling to go down.  We have also managed to purchase the majority of the Toilet Furniture for the New upstairs toilets (at a quarter of the cost - due to diligent sourcing & a lot of begging and a persuading).

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 19th March:  Senior Regeneration Managers & PR Staff from Thomas Vale Construction Ltd and also the Director of Wolverhampton Homes came down to the Hall today for a 'Photo Opportunity' following completion of 'Our New Kitchen'.

In the Photo (from left to right) Jonathan Wellington (Thomas Vale Construction Ltd, Regeneration Manager), Mark Henderson (Wolverhampton Homes Director) Heather Manser, Keith Jones & Debbie Cox (HHCA Directors) and Paul Dockerill (Thomas Vale Construction Ltd, Divisional Director).  Photographs by Sam Bagnall & PR opportunity organised & provided by Jade Wallis from Thomas Vale Construction Ltd.           

Celebration 'Toast' to our New Kitchen by our Sponsors from Thomas Vale Construction Ltd in partnership with Wolverhampton Homes (from left to right) Debbie (HHCA) Paul Dockerill & Jonathan Wellington (Thomas Vale) & Mark Henderson (Wolverhampton Homes) and Keith following an inspection of work carried out at  Hilton Hall.

We would also like to express our gratitude to Mick O'Connor from Thomas Vale who Project Managed the Kitchen re-fit and other work at the Hall which took place in December 2009.

Photo by Sam Bagnall.

To see the latest press release at Thomas Vale Click onto: http://www.thomasvale.com/eng/Good-News/Press-Releases/March-2010/Hilton-Hall

2010 4th March: 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 28th February:  Work commenced on Landscaping the front-right-hand side of Hilton Hall Grounds today.  Also, the Office ceiling has now been fully insulated and plaster-boarded and more efficient ('A' rated) lighting system installed (go to our 'Photographs' page to see our progress).

2010 23rd February: Work commenced on painting the Facia Boards & Soffits.  NEW 'Hilton Hall Community Centre' SIGN erected and already it's taking shape and looking better for the coats of Paint and TLC the Hall is getting.  Work was carried out by members of our Hilton Hall Volunteer Project and by members of the Community Payback Team.

2010 February 2nd:  We have now started the painting and decoration of the upstairs Toilets & Entrance Lobby and once this is done we will be ready for the tiling & grouting, and sourcing the toilet furniture & equipment (toilets, sinks, taps, etc.).   Work being carried out by members of our Hilton Hall Volunteer Project.  At this stage we really NEED someone to come along and help us with locating & fitting our new Central Heating Boilers & Water Heating System!!!

2010 January Roof Update.  On Friday 22nd we received delivery of the special roofing repair material we ordered following the Roof Disaster re: 16th January.  On Sunday 24th, we were fortunate enough (weather-wise at least) to be able to go back onto the Main Hall Roof again and to 'Fix' the Roof in a more permanent manner.   After clearing away the majority of the Roofing Gravel we were able to apply a coating of Thermoplastic-Fibre-Resin over the patch repairs we made a week earlier, and even though we are not superstitious . . . 'touch wood & fingers crossed, etc. . .' we hope to have now cured the area that was leaking in.  Our five HHCA / WYJC Volunteers worked all day at the Hall from 9:30am until 8pm. Not just on the Roof but also inside painting and fixing the storeroom flooring, etc. etc.

All-in-all. . . another fun-filled cold-day at the Freeze-factory.  (go to our 'Photographs' page to see our progress).

2010 January 19th:  The First Fitter for Walking event took place today.  This walk was led by Hema from 'Living Streets' and was supported by Martin Harrison from the Black Country Living Landscape organisation.  Local Residents and representatives from HHCA Management Team, together with our Neighbourhood Wardens Craig & Kym participated in this new 'Healthy Lifestyles' Walk (copy of our Route to be posted soon).  Our next scheduled walk will be on Tuesday 2nd February 2010 commencing 10:30am and YOU are ALL Welcome to join us on the FREE Walk.  Click onto the Fitter for Walking Link below for more details.

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 Felt became Frost-Damaged due to the Sub-Zero temperatures and as a result the  Roofing Felt Joints (where they overlap) were lifted and forced-open by the expanding Ice.

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 water 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 all day - until 4pm - carrying out this Temporary Patch-Repair which will have to 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).

The following links lead to PDF Files

FITTER FOR WALKING LINK & SAFER WINTER WALKING GUIDE 2010

NEWS PAPER ARTICLES - RE: HILTON HALL COMMUNITY CENTRE

THOMAS VALE CONSTRUCTION  LTD - SPONSORS KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT

For an 'on-going' update of our progress (right from the first entry in July 2008) please go to the timeline page above.