The way forward

Surprisingly, Newbridge has no dedicated community buildings. The local school or leisure centre has to adopt this role when required. Yet, here at the Newbridge Institute and Memorial Hall there is this wonderful building, centrally located within the town, just begging to be put to good use.

With its previous role as a cinema, good stage facilities and its unique architectural merit, the Memorial Hall (once restored) has great potential as a community building for cinema, theatre, exhibitions, conferences, music concerts and other events. Together with the parent Institute building next door, which has enough space to allow a wide range of community activities to take place, we have a valuable community resource within a unique heritage site. A fitting testament to the efforts of the miners who helped to build these facilities nearly one hundred years ago. Restoration of the Memorial Hall and its reinstatement as a cultural centre at the very heart of the community will be a lasting monument to the memory of the miners who built it, the community who used it and a 'pantheon' of local mining heritage.

We really do believe that there is a bright future for the Stute & Memo and we hope that you too can catch a glimpse of our vision and support us.

2007/2008 will be the centenary year of the Institute, we would like to see the regeneration completed by then. - It can be achieved!

Working Together
Support for the project has been very good, local businesses have helped in many ways. Organisations such as the Rotary Club and Inner Wheel have helped fundraise for the project/ Volunteers have spent many hours cleaning, repairing and decorating, or just helping out. They all want to do their bit to help.

Fundraising
Small grants have been secured from CISWO and GAVO. Essential repairs have been carried out e.g. roof repairs, upgrade of the security system and repairs to the heating system, enabling the building to stay open. The group have been very successful in holding fundraising events, the money going towards the general upkeep and running costs of the buildings.

Do you want to help?
We need volunteers to help us rebuild the Memo as the premier community arts centre in the valleys. Even if you can only spare a couple of hours a week, there are plenty of things to be done. Organizing events, Typing, Computer skills, Painting and decorating, Distributing leaflets, Fundraising etc. Whatever your skills we are sure there is a place for you at the Memo.

To help please Contact us or drop in to Institute.

Perhaps you would like to make a donation?
We expect the restoration of the building to cost well in excess of £3million and are working hard to raise this sum by a variety of means. We will need all the help we can get. We are a registered charity and you can be assured that you donation will be put to good use.
There are various ways in which you can make a donation. Please visit our Make a Donation page for more details

Buy a book to support us
If you would like to read more about the amazing story of the Newbridge Workmens Institute and Memorial Hall we have produced a booklet outlining the history and heritage of the Institute. It is lavishly illustrated with many vintage photographs and contemporary accounts of the Memo. 

The Celynen Collieries and Workingman's Institute and Memorial Hall
46 pps. 146 x 210 mm with 51 photographic illustrations
Published by Friends of Newbridge Memo
To purchase a copy
Please send a cheque for £5.00 (ie £4 plus £1 post and packing)
(make cheques payable to "Friends of Newbridge Memo") and send to the address above.