The village of Martin has received a boost with an award of £25,000 for roof repairs to its ‘tiny’ club.
The village, which is seven miles north west of Fordingbridge, sits within the New Forest district on the very western edge of Hampshire, close to the borders of both Wilsthire and Dorset, and is home to approximately 425 people.

The Martin Club Ltd is a Community Interest Benefit Society that was founded in the 1930s. It provides opportunities for social interaction to improve the wellbeing of residents and those from further afield.
The current roof is unstable, so the club applied for funding from Hampshire County Council. Despite being located in a small village, the club acts as a social hub for a wider area and has been rated as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ by New Forest District Council.
The roof repair will form the first phase of a wider programme of works that will make the club more energy efficient and sustainable.

Repairs will not only ensure that the club remains operational but it will allow the next phase to go ahead, which includes the installation of solar panels. The wider programme of works should be complete by 2025.
The club’s main room has a capacity of 200 people and activities include social events such as quizzes, discos, local history exhibitions, talks and film nights, along with a number of activity classes such as yoga, Pilates and table tennis.
It can be hired for private events and weddings and hosts meetings for community groups such as the local parish council.