One of the best community groups in Salford needs your help – and it couldn’t be easier to join up.
ECHO, a charitable organisation who won a prestigious award dubbed ‘the volunteer’s MBE’ last year, run the Eccles Town Hall ballroom.
Before its dramatic transformation the hall was used as local government offices, but had been empty and unused since the early 1970s.
Volunteers and Trustees helped bring the crumbling and derelict late-Victorian building back to life when they stepped in to refurbish the hall in 2010.
Though grants and funding over £150,000 has been spent on restoring the hall to its former glory.
Eccles Town Hall – via blueplaqueplaces.co.uk
Now with a 25-year lease from Salford City Council the elegant 1,000-capacity ballroom has become a hotspot for concerts and local events, including bringing the magical BBC Philharmonic to Eccles.
In fact, the orchestra returns to Eccles for another free performance of live classical music tomorrow night, Wednesday 4 November, from 7.30pm.
Watch: Big plans for historic Eccles Town Hall
Watch: BBC Philharmonic takeover Eccles Town Hall
Over the last five years ECHO have worked hard to make the Town Hall a success, now as part of Trustee Week 2015 they’re asking for new Trustees to come on board.
Trustees are vital: they are the people who help run charitable organisations. Anyone can be a Trustee.
People often sign up to ‘give something back’, but they themselves can learn and develop new skills and opportunities, as well as meeting people who share their passion.
Lifelong volunteer Jim Vann, 66, from Ellenbrook, joined ECHO as in 2012, and at his very first meeting ending up taking up the chairman’s position after the incumbent fell ill.
“Our concerts are our biggest draw – with that in mind we’re looking to improve the lighting windows, hall gallery [where the BBC Philharmonic video was shot from] and the wooden stage, which will cost in the region of £300,000 to improve.
“We’d like to encourage younger people to consider it: being a charity Trustee is absolute dynamite for your CV and it’s great experience that you can use to expand your confidence and skills.”
Spots are open now for you to get involved, with loads of support and help on offer.
If you’re got any knowledge of PR and/or marketing, legal affairs, business management or human resources, ECHO want to hear from you.
It’s open to anyone, of any age from 18-80.
Salford CVS, the community and voluntary services based just behind the Town Hall in Eccles, have trained over 140 Trustees over the past three years.
They’re offering free support for anyone thinking of becoming a Trustee.
Those under 25 are particularly welcome, to give younger people an active voice in making their community a better place: only 2% of charities have Trustees aged between 18 and 24.
At ECHO, you’ll help local volunteers and businesses to promote health and wellbeing, increase social capital and reduce isolation among the people of Eccles.
You’ll also see the benefit of encouraging a sense of pride in this wonderful building smack bang in the centre of the town.
If you’re interested contact Jim Vann on 0161 702 0057 or email vjim@talktalk.net
Find out more about the support on offer for Trustees at the Salford CVS website
Trustee Week runs from Monday 2 November to Friday 8 November 2015.
Main image: Eccles Borough Band perform at Eccles Town Hall
