THE future of Burbage Village Hall is under threat, as there is a desperate shortage of trustees to run the place.

For more than 25 years, the popular hall, in Eastcourt Road, has been the cornerstone of community events but it could close in June if more help is not found.

In recent years, elderly volunteers have moved away from the village and they are short of a secretary, a treasurer and someone to manage contracts.

Trustee Louise Clarke has made a desperate plea for people to sign up to keep the vital community asset going.

“It is hugely important for the community. It is smack bang in the middle of the village and is used virtually every day for pretty much everything you can think of,” she said.

“We have five trustees, but just three of them live locally so they can only do so much. We need another four really to share the load.

“It is not as if it is a mothballed building, it is an essential asset for Burbage and we desperately need help.

“There is a definite possibility it could close after June and we cannot let that happen.

“The hall is regularly hired out as a base for various activities and for one-off functions such as birthday parties and meetings.

“Unfortunately the income generated from such hires is not sufficient to fund the employment of even a part-time caretaker or administrator for the building. The current trustees and volunteer helpers give their time for free in order to keep this building going as an asset for the Burbage community.”

The hall, which has a maximum capacity of 150 people, was built in 1974 and was used for big events and for the local Royal British Legion branch before becoming a village hall in 1990.

Trustee and former chairman Sandy Rex said: “It would be disastrous if it were to close. I live in Telford so I can only really work through emails and phone calls.”

“When the hall stopped being a trust and became a charitable incorporated organisation, a legal entity that can enter into contracts in its own right, a few years ago, that is where the shortages started as trustees that were full time, then became part time ones that did less.

“We can apply for grants, but now we find it very hard to keep our trustees. I enjoy helping out but we have not been able to bring anyone in.”

To become a trustee email bvhwilts@gmail.com or call 01672 810784.