Survey Results 2024

Results of Witheridge Parish Hall Community Questionnaire

Last autumn, Witheridge Parish Hall Committee delivered a two-page questionnaire to over 600 community residents. The purpose was to:

-              find out how the hall is meeting the needs of our community

-              gain information to inform our aims and priorities

-              gather data to inform funding applications to support hall improvements



Thank you to all who completed the questionnaire!

Summary:

1.    We received a 17% response and some extremely helpful feedback. This will enable us to produce a very specific questionnaire for the next phase of our community engagement. We anticipate this will go out online in the summer.

2.    Most who responded lived in Witheridge and were female, between ages 50 – 80.

3.    They mostly agreed the need for a parish hall in the village with the biggest proportion using it for private functions and meetings.

4.    Most people said they used it monthly closely followed by weekly with Film Night and Clubs being the most popular activities attended.

5.    Most respondents said they or someone in their household would be interested in attending more music, charity and craft events and there were some excellent suggestions for new activities.

6.    Better heating, comfortable seats, kitchen improvements and more evening and weekend entertainment were suggested most when asked what would encourage respondents to visit more.

7.    Many respondents attend activities outside the village mainly because what they are looking for is not offered in Witheridge, or not on a day and at a time that suits them.

8.    Less than a quarter of respondents said they would be prepared to offer help with either administration or in support of improved activities, yet nearly all said they would miss the hall if it were not there.

9.    Most respondents said the stage should be left full size.

10. There were some helpful suggestions for improvements and even some praise for the Committee for volunteering their time and effort as well as giving the community an opportunity to engage.

Committee Plan for next phase of community engagement:

A.    Use the analysis to inform the production of a questionnaire to go online in summer 2024 via the Parish Hall website and advertised on the Facebook page and What’s On.

B.    Conduct a full assessment/feasibility study regarding the stage including costs.

C.   Identify funding grants/opportunities to support the heating replacement, more comfortable chairs and a kitchen revamp.

D.   Explore options for a summer programme of entertainment events and activities to take place in the evenings and at weekends endorsed by residents.