FIRMS across Trowbridge are rallying to support Town Hall Arts as they inch closer to their £35,000 to Survive £60,000 to Thrive targets which will see the Town Hall stay open for at least another year.

Help is coming in from a variety of sources, with several significant offers currently being examined by the Board of Trustees which runs the Hall. They are also excited at the thought that this Sunday’s 130 Challenge, organised by the town’s Chamber which represents businesses, aims to bring in at least a third of the £35,000 essential core funding cash, and could even become an annual fundraiser.

“It’s going really well and it is so heartening to see the level of support we are getting,” Board chairman Colin Kay said.

“It’s particularly comforting for our staff, who have worked tirelessly on this project, and who face losing their jobs if we have to close the Hall. To know their work is appreciated and will be missed so much will be some small comfort to them.”

Among the firms which has already come forward with a practical offer of help is West Wilts Micros, whose Fore Street shop is only yards from the Town Hall. Owners Lyn and Peter Scott, who have run their business in Trowbridge for 35 years, have offered the Trust support with a credit of £100 a month for stationery, inks etc.

Lyn said: “We wanted to help: it’s a beautiful building, part of Trowbridge’s heritage. They have all worked so hard to build it up and are doing a brilliant job. And we would not want to lose it.

“We don’t get a chance to go to as many events as we would like, but we wanted to do what we could, and felt a practical offer of help was the most suitable thing.”

“It’s a wonderful offer, and we are so grateful – its also a superb example of how local businesses can support the Hall, by making in kind gestures like this which will make a real difference to our running costs,” THA Director Tracy Sullivan said.

Sunday sees the Chamber’s 130 Challenge, and there is still time for anyone who supports the Hall, whether the live or work in Trowbridge or not, to sign up for the 5k and 10k sponsored walks around the town centre.

“If 130 people each raise £130 then that’s £16,950. That will help secure the Hall’s future – and if we get more people, or they raise more than that each, the event could save the Hall completely for this year,” Chamber president Tracy Parker said. “I know the people of Trowbridge are behind the hall, and I know we can do it.”

At 1.30pm on Sunday, June 24, the 130 walkers will set off from the Town Hall steps, walking a five kilometre loop before returning to the Hall, where they then set out on a second loop to complete the 10k route.

“People can walk 5k or 10, whichever they want to tackle,” Tracy said. “And because the Hall is part of our arts scene, we’ll be asking walkers to take pictures along the way which will be put on Instagram, and used to create a final piece of artwork which will go on display in the Hall.

“And the businesses taking part can use those Instagram pictures for their own social media publicity purposes: it’s a perfect example of how having the Town Hall as an arts focus for this town benefits business.

“Whatever your business is, whatever your connection with the town is, we need people to support this challenge, we don’t want to see the hall close.

“We are so lucky here to have the Town Hall right in the centre of Trowbridge, where it makes a real contribution to the community and business life. So many towns have arts centres which are out of town but ours is right here and it has a big effect on business.”

If you run a business or work in Trowbridge, or simply want to support the 130 Challenge and help save the Hall, joining in is simple: go to the Chamber’s website at www.trowbridgechamber.co.uk and sign up to take part. Registration will be from 1pm on June 24, the walk starts at 1.30pm and you’ve got three hours to cover 10k or 5k.

If you can’t walk yourself but want to help, they need volunteers to organise and marshall the event and hand out water to walkers, email trowbridgechamber@gmail.com and there is also a Local Giving page at https://localgiving.org/fundraising/130challenge/

“Things are going well but we’re not out of the woods yet,” Mr Kay added. “We said at the beginning of this campaign that we need £35,000 to Survive, £60,000 to Thrive, and that’s for the next year. If we get pledges which will ensure our funding for the next three years that would be fantastic. We have to have the £35,000 by the end of June: if we make our £60,000 target, that means we can work harder to make sure we grow our income and stay open into the future.”

As part of the campaign, the Town Hall manager Philippa Edwards has analysed date from the last 21 months showing how much the £60,000 Arts Council grant, the loss of which has led to the current funding crisis, has enabled Town Hall Arts to do for Trowbridge.

It details all the activities which have been either organised directly by Town Hall Arts, or which have taken place there with their support. More than 25 per cent have been free to attend or take part in, as part of the Town Hall Trust’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all.

Companies wanting to know more about how they can get involved should contact THA Director Tracy Sullivan on director@townhallarts.co.uk or call 01225 774306.

People who want to make a one-off or a regular monthly donation to help ensure the long term future of the Town Hall, can do so through LocalGiving.org, by searching for Town Hall Arts.