Barley Mow Village Hall, Bedford Avenue, Birtley, Chester-le-Street (2026)

29/05/2026

Questions are set.

Bar is stocked.

Is your team ready?

28/05/2026

Hello Everyone!!! If you already like, or are interested in finding out about, GARDENING and/ or HORTICULTURE then this just may be of real interest. Mary is from ROSECARPE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY and has asked for the following to be posted.....

'Rosecarpe has been a gardening club for over 80 years. It used to have flower shows twice a year but that has now stopped because people don't appear to have interest is such shows anymore. I joined to get ideas about planning my garden. There was a real wealth of knowledge within the group and everyone shared their knowledge and ideas. Over the years we've had many speakers who have given fascinating talks on a wide range of gardening topics. In recent years we've had speakers giving talks on such issues as allotments, garden design, classic gardens, local horticultural history, the environmental importance of gardens and many more. We've also arranged trips for our group to visit charity gardens across the North-East. Everyone has become friends for life and our meetings are a highlight for everyone. Unfortunately all of those presently in Rosecarpe are, as they say, 'getting on a bit' as we have struggled to attract new, younger members to join. As a result our membership has dropped considerably in the last year. Sad but true. To keep Rosecarpe Horticultural Society going we are hoping that there are some younger folks out there who share our passion for everything 'gardening' who might be interested in joining us. We meet at BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL on the first Monday of each month so I am letting everyone know that our next meeting is 1.00pm - 3.00pm on MONDAY 1ST JUNE. And, at this meeting, we have a very IMPORTANT SURPRISE GUEST! If you are interested in the world of gardening, and anything/ everything related, then please feel free to come along. We would love to see you'.

Please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested. Mary, and everyone else in Rosecarpe, would sincerely appreciate it if you would kindly help them by letting as many others know as possible.

12/05/2026

Hello Everyone!!! Our next big fundraising event of 2026 will be a CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT @ BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL!! And we need more teams to enter!!!!

As part of our ongoing series of fundraising events we are pleased to announce that we have organised a CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT to take place from 7.00pm - 10.00pm on FRIDAY 5TH JUNE 2026 at Barley Mow Village Hall.

Our previous Charity Quiz Nights have proven extremely popular, and ever so enjoyable, so we're hoping that this one proves equally so.

Entry per team, of UP TO 6 members, is still ONLY £12.00. We're limited to the amount of teams we can accommodate so places for teams are offered on a first come, first served basis. Plus we'll also be providing a licenced bar for the evening too!

You will find all the details for the event below. If you require a registration form then either call in to collect one or this can be requested via email ([email protected]) and we'll email one to you.

So if you can get a team of quizzers together, and want to enjoy a great night out, then why not get in touch and get your team booked? Cheap as chips and all proceeds go towards keeping Barley Mow Village Hall open and providing vital services for our community. Just what's not to like?

As usual we would sincerely appreciate it if you would kindly share this as widely as possible.

Thanking you

BMVH

12/05/2026

PEEL STREET@ BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL! TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

On FRIDAY 17TH JULY 2026 7.00 PM - 10.30PM it's Long Live Rock'n'Roll time here at Barley Mow Village Hall! And all for a very good cause - us!

Another remarkable night of entertainment here at Barley Mow Village Hall with the acclaimed PEEL STREET playing a fundraising gig with all proceeds going towards keeping Barley Mow Village Hall open and delivering vital services for those in our community.
If you like your music to be of the classic rock variety then you will love Peel Street.

Tickets are ONLY £3.00 EACH in advance and are now available from Barley Mow Village Hall.

Plus there will be a bar and lots of other fundraising activities on the night.

A great night out, a great band and all in aid of Barley Mow Village Hall. Just what's not to like?

05/05/2026

COMING YOUR WAY ON MONDAY 11TH MAY @ BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL!

As part of our Warm Welcome Spaces programme on Monday 11th May, from 11.00am - 1.00pm, we are pleased to welcome Hannah Murray from North East Warm Homes.

Hannah is keen to make links within the community to raise awareness with residents as to what support North East Warm Homes can offer.

We help households install energy saving home improvements – also called ‘retrofitting’ – to reduce their energy bills. All our advice is impartial and delivered by the experts at Energy Saving Trust. Whether you are a home owner or you rent we’re here to support you every step of the way.

No appointment required and all information and advice is FREE!

28/04/2026

UPDATE - IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL THEN WE NEED YOU ALL TO READ THIS.... AND THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Further to our lengthy posting last week regarding Pride in Place/ Community Capital Grants Fund across multiple Birtley Facebook groups here is an update:

Across the four Facebook Groups 370 people responded by liking the posts.

Across the four Facebook Groups 199 people posted comments.

Rather than respond on an individual basis to all the comments (which we thank everyone for making) we noticed that several were on, or about, similar themes and issues. So we've gathered these together and can therefore report the following back to everyone.

1) Barley Mow Village Hall is apolitical and not connected with any political party. We do not endorse any particular party and/or candidate. Anything we post regarding political parties is entirely factual.

2) Our issue is not only about failure to obtain Pride in Place funding from Gateshead Council but also decision making, accountability and transparency concerning the entire process. In all of our dealings with the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council we have strived to be respectful and diplomatic. Thus far, based upon our experience, we remain unconvinced that our respect and diplomacy have been reciprocated.

3) When we asked for feedback from the Gateshead Council External Funding Team on our application, so that we could improve the quality of future applications, we were informed that it was strong in terms of engagement, planning and value for money. There were no recommendations made in terms of what would have improved our application. Essentially we could not have written a better application.

4) We always strive to be as objective as possible and are sure that every single one of the nineteen projects funded by Pride in Place has merit. That said, in what reality is a Heritage Window Project deserving of £11,000 whilst a popular and successful community centre is threatened with closure as a result of not being able to heat the building gets nothing?

5) After the struggle to obtain information about the successful awards we were eventually provided with this table (see first image below). In no uncertain terms, we were asked by Gateshead Council not to share this information any further. Public servants allocating central government funding who, apparently, are not keen on letting the public know very much.

6) A number of comments referred to issues such as the cost of cycle lanes and the state of Birtley High Street. These are separate issues. not related to Pride in Place funding and therefore we cannot comment.

7) In terms of support from Local Councillors both Paul Elliott (Liberal Democrat) and Joe Sowerby (LD) supported the Barley Mow Village Hall application for Pride in Place funding. After receiving notification that our application had been unsuccessful, and the possible implications of this, an emergency meeting was called to discuss the situation. This was to be a meeting between the trustees of Barley Mow Village Hall and the three local councillors. Cllr. Paul Elliott (LD) attended the meeting. Cllr. Joe Sowerby (LD) responded to say that he had a prior engagement but was willing to attend an alternative meeting if one could be arranged. Cllr. Daniel Weatherley (Labour) did not respond to the email invitation, or a telephone call and did not attend.

8) Below is a map of Gateshead (second image) broken down into 22 wards. Each of the red pins represents a project that was awarded Pride in Place funding. Just for reference we are at the bottom of the Birtley Ward.
There are 22 wards in Gateshead. Projects in 13 wards were successful in obtaining Pride in Place funding. Any projects in the 9 other wards were unsuccessful. Of the 13 wards successful in obtaining Pride in Place funding, 8 have three Labour councillors, one has two Labour and one Liberal Democrat, two have two Labour councillors Councillors and one independent and 2 wards have three Liberal Democrat councillors. So 78% of Pride in Place funding was allocated to wards with two or three Labour councillors. 18% of Pride in Place funding was allocated to wards with one or three Liberal Democrat councillors. 3% of Pride in Place funding went to a ward with one independent councillor.

9) We already receive funding from the National Lottery Community Fund for our Volunteer Coordinator. We do not rule out a further/ additional application.

10) We are willing to explore the Go Fund Me option. If there is anyone out there with the expertise and/or experience of doing this then please contact us.

11) The suggestion to include North East Regional Mayor Kim McGuinness is one we had not considered. In the circumstances this was an oversight on our behalf. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or you can send her a message via her website.

12) We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our situation with any individual or local businesses who might help. If you have a relevant contact name/ email address then please let us know.

13) We are presently considering requesting further information from Gateshead Council regarding a formal complaint and/or a Freedom of Information request. Something themed around scoring criteria and scores awarded in the process of decision making.

14) Today we have received a request from Maria Hall, the Gateshead Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, Volunteering and Localities to arrange a meeting to discuss this matter. We aim to accept this offer.

15) If Tony Fitzgibbon (semi-retired Gas Engineer) would like to call in and provide some support/ advice then this would be appreciated.

16) Back in September 2025 we submitted an application via Community Foundation North East for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding for two replacement boilers for £22,000. We were informed that £30,192 was available to fund capital infrastructure projects in the Birtley Ward. In November we were asked by Community Foundation North East to provide additional information, This took almost two full days but we complied. In December we were informed by Community Foundation North East that they had made a mistake and that the CIL funding was not for the Birtley Ward but for projects in Lamesley Ward. In the circumstances Community Foundation North East agreed to submit our application to one of its other sources of funding the1989 Willan Charitable Trust who they considered most likely to fund our application. The Willan Charitable Trust Advisory Panel met in March 2026 and we were informed that our application had been unsuccessful earlier this month.

17) By some 'quirk of fate' the one project in the south of Gateshead to be awarded Pride in Place funding is St. Andrew's Church in the Lamesley Ward. That's the one that was awarded £11,000 for Heritage Window Restoration. And that is the very same Lamesley Ward that CIL funding of £30,192 was available to apply for capital projects (see 16 above).

18) Geographically Barley Mow Village Hall is in Gateshead, However half of our catchment area is actually in County Durham and we can prove that a substantial number of our users are from 'the other side of Vigo Lane' which is the North Lodge Ward of Durham. In December 2025 we met with North Lodge Cllr. Craig Martin (LD) to explore the possibility of Durham County Council making a financial contribution to the work of Barley Mow Village Hall. Cllr. Martin was supportive of our work and agreed to explore the options in terms of limited funding (up to £5,000) from Durham County Council. Earlier this month Cllr. Martin reported that despite his best efforts the Reform UK controlled Durham County Council was not willing to invest any money in a project only fifteen metres outside the council boundary. Regardless of how many people from County Durham that project works with.

19) Since the asset transfer of Barley Mow Village Hall from Gateshead Council to local people almost eight years ago, those involved have continually gone above, and beyond the call of duty to keep the project open. We have not only survived but, due to dedication and hard work, also thrived. The project is well managed generally but specifically with reference to financial management. It has taken several years to achieve but we are in a position where we can claim to be 'balancing the books'. However there are some problems that are too big and that we cannot solve on our own, An example of this would be replacement boilers where the support of funders and Gateshead Council is vital.

24/04/2026

URGENT - IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL THEN WE NEED YOU ALL TO READ THIS.... AND THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Right now we're angry. After reading this you may feel the same.
In advance we apologise that it's a long post but, if you make the time to read it, you will understand why.

Heard the one about the hugely successful Warm Welcome Space in Barley Mow Village Hall that, because Gateshead Council does not see it as a priority, now faces closure because it will have no heating?

In January 2026 in a large feature on their website Gateshead Council praised the impact of Warm Welcome Space in Barley Mow Village Hall but, less than two months later, turned down an application for central government money to replace failing boilers that would enable Barley Mow Village Hall to remain open for many years to come. Whilst, at the same time, awarding funding in other areas of Gateshead for extensions of exercise areas, a 'main space' in a library, a heritage window restoration and toilet refurbishments.

Because of what Barley Mow Village Hall considers to be a questionable process with questionable decisions and outcomes, it now faces an uncertain future including the possibility of closure.

WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND TO ALL THIS?

Barley Mow Village Hall is a registered charity that first opened in 1972 and has been delivering essential space and support for local people for almost 54 years. In 2018 the actual Village Hall building was asset transferred from Gateshead Council to local people to manage, maintain and sustain for a period of 35 years. A tall order with a great deal of responsibility but we believe our community deserves a place to meet, socialise, enjoy and learn in. Eight years later, and due to the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers and staff, we are still here and continuing to represent the best interests of everyone in our community.

In January 2026 Gateshead Council published a piece celebrating the fine work, over a three year period, of Barley Mow Village Hall in delivering a Warm Welcome Space that provides hot meals and a safe, warm environment for over seventy local people each and every week. A warm welcome space delivered by dedicated
volunteers and heralded by Gateshead Council as both 'outstanding' and 'successful'.

In late January 2026 it was announced that Gateshead Council had been allocated £340,000 from UK Central Government as part of Pride in Place (otherwise known as Community Capital Grants Fund) and that community and voluntary sector organisations were encouraged to apply for grants of £5,000 - £30,000 for
capital work that made improvements to community and public spaces with three priorities. The first was titled Community Spaces, the second Public Spaces and high street and town centre revitalisation.

In February 2026 Barley Mow Village Hall submitted an application to Gateshead Council for £22,000 to replace the existing failing boilers with new, efficient and cost effective ones. It was made clear that the existing boilers had exceeded their lifespan, could now no longer be patched up and that replacements were essential to
remaining open and delivering vital services. Not only for 800 local people who are part of regular user groups, not only for those benefiting from Warm Welcome Space but that Barley Mow Village Hall is also a place that is used virtually every month as
a NHS Blood Donors venue. Those involved in Barley Mow Village Hall had reason to be optimistic as it had been clearly demonstrated in the application that it was for capital work, would promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion and it would
do more than improve community space...it would enable Barley Mow Village Hall to survive!

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

In March 2026 Barley Mow Village Hall was informed that it had been unsuccessful in obtaining any funding via Pride in Place. This was obviously disappointing news for all involved in trying to keep Barley Mow Village Hall open. Especially as, when asked for feedback on the application, the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council reported that it was strong in terms of engagement, planning and value for money. However the comment was made that other organisations scored higher in
terms of fit with the 'overarching aim' of the Pride in Place programme. The 'overarching aim' that was capital work, would promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion and improve community space. Exactly what we thought we had clearly demonstrated.

In a piece published on 19th March 2026 in the online Gateshead Council Now there was a substantial article on the life changing grants confirmed for Gateshead community spaces that highlighted the award of £30,000 to St. Chad's Community project for the renovation of their kitchen and hall. Another 18 projects were named as being recipients of grants but there was no mention of what the grants were for or how much had been awarded. To those involved at Barley Mow it seemed a little strange to make so much of one project and so little of the other 18.

Andrew Brown-Searle (Chairperson Barley Mow Village Hall) contacted the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council to kindly request information on the projects that had received grants and how much had been awarded.

On 2nd April 2026 a representative from the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council responded by providing literally a title of each project, with little or no detail, that had received grants from Pride in Place. Despite the request for amounts that had been awarded this was not included.

Andrew again contacted the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council to kindly request the amounts awarded to the 18 projects that were successful.

On 8th April 2026 the same representative of the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council provided a full list of successful organisations, names of respective projects as well as the amounts awarded. As well as making interesting reading it was preceded with the message 'I would kindly ask that this information is not shared any further as we do not publish these details'. Strange that there were no such concerns when announcing details of St. Chad's success and the amount they had received. Stranger still that this was a public servant dealing with allocation of public money who appeared to want to keep information to the public to a bare minimum.

On 14th April 2026 Mr Browne-Searle wrote to the External Funding Team to express concerns about the decision making process, the interpretation of criteria, some very questionable decisions in terms of priorities and transparency. Information was requested about an appeals procedure that would allow Barley Mow Village Hall to challenge the decision to reject its application.
On 21st April 2026 a message was received from the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council informing us that there is no appeal process and that the decision of the panel is final.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Barley Mow Village Hall has no doubt that the total of all applications across Gateshead exceeded the amount available and that there were many worthy projects. However, when the information provided by Gateshead Council External
Funding Team was digested it raised more questions than answers.
These include questions around priorities in that it is unlikely that any of the successful organisations not receiving awards would be facing potential closure as is the reality for Barley Mow Village Hall.
How is it that the refurbishment of toilets scores so
highly and warrants two awards of £27,592.00 and £30,000 respectively? A 'main space' in Whickham Library is deserving of £30,000? An Outside Exercise Area Extension (not an outside exercise area but an extension to one) merits £24,000,
£28,400 for unspecified 'repairs' to Emma Hall or even a heritage windows restoration at St. Andrews Church Hall that was awarded over £11,000. Barley Mow Village Hall, which now faces an uncertain future, receives nothing. How come that the vast majority of awards were made to organisations in the north of the borough and predominantly in council wards with Labour Ward Councillors? Was an attempt to more evenly spread the funding across the entire borough a factor as huge swathes of the outer west and south areas received nothing? Public servants allocating public
money and then not wanting this information to be available to the public they are there to serve? How is it that the application feedback recognises that both the qualitative and quantitative information supplied is strong and that it meets the
criteria but does not fit the terms of the 'overarching aim'?

Gateshead Council also seem to be reticent to share any information regarding the panel that made decisions regarding the allocation of Pride in Place grants or what we would label the lottery of a process that prioritises improvements to existing facilities over saving one entire community centre from closure for a relatively small amount.

We are Proud of our Place. Obviously far prouder of the place than Gateshead Council is.

We hope that there are many of you who are equally proud of our community. And are willing to stand up and be counted.

WHAT WE SAY.

Andrew Brown-Searle, Chairperson of Barley Mow Village Hall, commented 'I, and all the other volunteers who invest their efforts, energy and time to try and keep the project open, are devastated by not only the decision to not fund two new boilers but
at the dismissive attitude of Gateshead Council. We have requested relevant information in a reasonable and respectful manner and I get the impression that Gateshead Council wishes we would just shut up and go away because they know best. But we will not shut up because the very future of Barley Mow Village Hall depends on us acting in the best interests of local people'.

Frederick Forster, Trustee and Honorary President, added 'I've been involved in this place since it opened over fifty years ago and was involved in the transfer of Barley Mow Village Hall from Gateshead Council to local people in 2018. Everyone involved in this place is doing everything they can to ensure it is here for another fifty years so it is particularly disappointing to not be supported by the council when we most need it. I am angry about this, fear for the future of the village hall and the real possibility
that it may have to close'.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Pressing the Thumbs up/ Love/ Care emojis are great and we would encourage everyone to do this. However, on this occassion, we need folks to do more. So here are at least seven things you can do that would make a real difference:

1) You can share this post as widely as possible. The more people that know about this the better. In terms of social media we only use Facebook so would consider it a great favour if it could be posted and shared on other social media platforms.

2) You can contact Martin Gannon, the Leader of Gateshead Council and Chair of the Cabinet, to express your thoughts on this issue. He can be contacted via email at [email protected]

3) You can contact Maria Hall, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, Volunteering and Localities, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be contacted via email at [email protected]

4) You can contact Bernadette Oliphant, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health and Wellbeing, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be contacted via email at [email protected]

5) You can contact Sharon Hodgson, the Member of Parliament for Washington and Gateshead South, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or via her website (sharonhodgson.org). Although Pride in Place was devolved to local authorities, and in our case Gateshead Council, the money was from central government and Sharon Hodgson is the Member of parliament for Gateshead South which includes the Birtley Ward where Barley Mow Village Hall is situated.

6) If there are any people out there and reading this who have contacts within the media then do us a massive favour and contact them on our behalf or get then to contact us. Does not matter whether it is traditional media (newsapers, television, radio etc.) or online. Just anyone who who would be interested in covering this story and raising the profile of this story and of the situation we now find ourselves in.

7) If there is anyone out there who thinks they can help in any other way, or knows someone who can, then please feel free to contact us.

We are relying on the support of everyone in our community and we would not ask if it were not urgent. But it is, and we are.

Thanks for giving this your attention.

BMVH

24/04/2026

URGENT - IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND BARLEY MOW VILLAGE HALL THEN WE NEED YOU ALL TO READ THIS.... AND THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Right now we're angry. After reading this you may feel the same.

In advance we apologise that it's a long post but, if you make the time to read it, you will understand why.

Heard the one about the hugely successful Warm Welcome Space in Barley Mow Village Hall that, because Gateshead Council does not see it as a priority, now faces closure because it will have no heating?

In January 2026 in a large feature on their website Gateshead Council praised the impact of Warm Welcome Space in Barley Mow Village Hall but, less than two months later, turned down an application for central government money to replace failing boilers that would enable Barley Mow Village Hall to remain open for many years to come. Whilst, at the same time, awarding funding in other areas of Gateshead for extensions of exercise areas, a 'main space' in a library, a heritage window restoration and toilet refurbishments.

Because of what Barley Mow Village Hall considers to be a questionable process with questionable decisions and outcomes, it now faces an uncertain future including the possibility of closure.

WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND TO ALL THIS?

Barley Mow Village Hall is a registered charity that first opened in 1972 and has been delivering essential space and support for local people for almost 54 years. In 2018 the actual Village Hall building was asset transferred from Gateshead Council to local people to manage, maintain and sustain for a period of 35 years. A tall order with a great deal of responsibility but we believe our community deserves a place to meet, socialise, enjoy and learn in. Eight years later, and due to the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers and staff, we are still here and continuing to represent the best interests of everyone in our community.

In January 2026 Gateshead Council published a piece celebrating the fine work, over a three year period, of Barley Mow Village Hall in delivering a Warm Welcome Space that provides hot meals and a safe, warm environment for over seventy local people each and every week. A warm welcome space delivered by dedicated
volunteers and heralded by Gateshead Council as both 'outstanding' and 'successful'.

In late January 2026 it was announced that Gateshead Council had been allocated £340,000 from UK Central Government as part of Pride in Place (otherwise known as Community Capital Grants Fund) and that community and voluntary sector organisations were encouraged to apply for grants of £5,000 - £30,000 for
capital work that made improvements to community and public spaces with three priorities. The first was titled Community Spaces, the second Public Spaces and high street and town centre revitalisation.

In February 2026 Barley Mow Village Hall submitted an application to Gateshead Council for £22,000 to replace the existing failing boilers with new, efficient and cost effective ones. It was made clear that the existing boilers had exceeded their lifespan, could now no longer be patched up and that replacements were essential to
remaining open and delivering vital services. Not only for 800 local people who are part of regular user groups, not only for those benefiting from Warm Welcome Space but that Barley Mow Village Hall is also a place that is used virtually every month as
a NHS Blood Donors venue. Those involved in Barley Mow Village Hall had reason to be optimistic as it had been clearly demonstrated in the application that it was for capital work, would promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion and it would
do more than improve community space...it would enable Barley Mow Village Hall to survive!

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

In March 2026 Barley Mow Village Hall was informed that it had been unsuccessful in obtaining any funding via Pride in Place. This was obviously disappointing news for all involved in trying to keep Barley Mow Village Hall open. Especially as, when asked for feedback on the application, the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council reported that it was strong in terms of engagement, planning and value for money. However the comment was made that other organisations scored higher in
terms of fit with the 'overarching aim' of the Pride in Place programme. The 'overarching aim' that was capital work, would promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion and improve community space. Exactly what we thought we had clearly demonstrated.

In a piece published on 19th March 2026 in the online Gateshead Council Now there was a substantial article on the life changing grants confirmed for Gateshead community spaces that highlighted the award of £30,000 to St. Chad's Community project for the renovation of their kitchen and hall. Another 18 projects were named as being recipients of grants but there was no mention of what the grants were for or how much had been awarded. To those involved at Barley Mow it seemed a little strange to make so much of one project and so little of the other 18.

Andrew Brown-Searle (Chairperson Barley Mow Village Hall) contacted the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council to kindly request information on the projects that had received grants and how much had been awarded.

On 2nd April 2026 a representative from the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council responded by providing literally a title of each project, with little or no detail, that had received grants from Pride in Place. Despite the request for amounts that had been awarded this was not included.

Andrew again contacted the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council to kindly request the amounts awarded to the 18 projects that were successful.

On 8th April 2026 the same representative of the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council provided a full list of successful organisations, names of respective projects as well as the amounts awarded. As well as making interesting reading it was preceded with the message 'I would kindly ask that this information is not shared any further as we do not publish these details'. Strange that there were no such concerns when announcing details of St. Chad's success and the amount they had received. Stranger still that this was a public servant dealing with allocation of public money who appeared to want to keep information to the public to a bare minimum.

On 14th April 2026 Mr Browne-Searle wrote to the External Funding Team to express concerns about the decision making process, the interpretation of criteria, some very questionable decisions in terms of priorities and transparency. Information was requested about an appeals procedure that would allow Barley Mow Village Hall to
challenge the decision to reject its application.

On 21st April 2026 a message was received from the External Funding Team of Gateshead Council informing us that there is no appeal process and that the decision of the panel is final.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Barley Mow Village Hall has no doubt that the total of all applications across Gateshead exceeded the amount available and that there were many worthy projects. However, when the information provided by Gateshead Council External
Funding Team was digested it raised more questions than answers.

These include questions around priorities in that it is unlikely that any of the successful organisations not receiving awards would be facing potential closure as is the reality for Barley Mow Village Hall.
How is it that the refurbishment of toilets scores so
highly and warrants two awards of £27,592.00 and £30,000 respectively? A 'main space' in Whickham Library is deserving of £30,000? An Outside Exercise Area Extension (not an outside exercise area but an extension to one) merits £24,000,
£28,400 for unspecified 'repairs' to Emma Hall or even a heritage windows restoration at St. Andrews Church Hall that was awarded over £11,000. Barley Mow Village Hall, which now faces an uncertain future, receives nothing. How come that the vast majority of awards were made to organisations in the north of the borough and predominantly in council wards with Labour Ward Councillors? Was an attempt to more evenly spread the funding across the entire borough a factor as huge swathes of the outer west and south areas received nothing? Public servants allocating public
money and then not wanting this information to be available to the public they are there to serve? How is it that the application feedback recognises that both the qualitative and quantitative information supplied is strong and that it meets the
criteria but does not fit the terms of the 'overarching aim'?

Gateshead Council also seem to be reticent to share any information regarding the panel that made decisions regarding the allocation of Pride in Place grants or what we would label the lottery of a process that prioritises improvements to existing facilities over saving one entire community centre from closure for a relatively small amount.

We are Proud of our Place. Obviously far prouder of the place than Gateshead Council is.

We hope that there are many of you who are equally proud of our community. And are willing to stand up and be counted.

WHAT WE SAY.

Andrew Brown-Searle, Chairperson of Barley Mow Village Hall, commented 'I, and all the other volunteers who invest their efforts, energy and time to try and keep the project open, are devastated by not only the decision to not fund two new boilers but
at the dismissive attitude of Gateshead Council. We have requested relevant information in a reasonable and respectful manner and I get the impression that Gateshead Council wishes we would just shut up and go away because they know best. But we will not shut up because the very future of Barley Mow Village Hall depends on us acting in the best interests of local people'.

Frederick Forster, Trustee and Honorary President, added 'I've been involved in this place since it opened over fifty years ago and was involved in the transfer of Barley Mow Village Hall from Gateshead Council to local people in 2018. Everyone involved in this place is doing everything they can to ensure it is here for another fifty years so it is particularly disappointing to not be supported by the council when we most need it. I am angry about this, fear for the future of the village hall and the real possibility
that it may have to close'.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Pressing the Thumbs up/ Love/ Care emojis are great and we would encourage everyone to do this. However, on this occassion, we need folks to do more. So here are at least seven things you can do that would make a real difference:

1) You can share this post as widely as possible. The more people that know about this the better. In terms of social media we only use Facebook so would consider it a great favour if it could be posted and shared on other social media platforms.

2) You can contact Martin Gannon, the Leader of Gateshead Council and Chair of the Cabinet, to express your thoughts on this issue. He can be contacted via email at [email protected]

3) You can contact Maria Hall, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, Volunteering and Localities, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be contacted via email at [email protected]

4) You can contact Bernadette Oliphant, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Health and Wellbeing, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be contacted via email at [email protected]

5) You can contact Sharon Hodgson, the Member of Parliament for Washington and Gateshead South, to express your thoughts on this issue. She can be vontacted via email at [email protected] or via her website (sharonhodgson.org). Although Pride in Place was devolved to local authorities, and in our case Gateshead Council, the money was from central government and Sharon Hodgson is the Member of parliament for Gateshead South which includes the Birtley Ward where Barley Mow Village Hall is situated.

6) If there are any people out there and reading this who have contacts within the media then do us a massive favour and contact them on our behalf or get then to contact us. Does not matter whether it is traditional media (newsapers, television, radio etc.) or online. Just anyone who who would be interested in covering this story and raising the profile of this story and of the situation we now find ourselves in.

7) If there is anyone out there who thinks they can help in any other way, or knows someone who can, then please feel free to contact us.

We are relying on the support of everyone in our community and we would not ask if it were not urgent. But it is, and we are.

Thanks for giving this your attention.

BMVH

Barley Mow Village Hall

29/05/2026

28/05/2026

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12/05/2026

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