After a fire in the late 1970s which destroyed most of the old Masonic Hall, a small number of local residents came together to form a committee to refurbish the hall for the benefit of the whole village. Their inspiration and efforts were recognised by the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, who in 1978 signed a lease with the newly formed Kingswood Village Community Association. This was renewed in 2013 and now runs until 2028.
At the outset funds were required for the building of a new kitchen, stage and dressing rooms. The target was achieved by putting on a variety of events, with revenue primarily raised from highly successful drama productions. This led to the formation of KADDS as the drama and dance arm of the KVCA.
From these early years the KVCA, as a registered charity, has continued to manage the hall for use by local associations, charities and clubs, by local businesses which offer dance, drama and fitness courses, as well being available for private functions. Hire charges provide income to maintain and improve the hall as an amenity for the village.
The first committee considered that there was a real need to give news and reports of local activities and so the first edition of Village Voice was published in 1980. This quarterly publication has been produced without a break since, and now over 1700 copies are distributed every 3 months in the Kingswood area.
The KVCA was established in the 1970s to provide and maintain a community centre for the benefit of all the inhabitants of Kingswood Village.
It does this primarily by:
- Managing and developing the Kingswood Village Hall to meet the needs of community groups, individuals and businesses in Kingswood and surrounding areas.
- Producing a quarterly magazine, The Village Voice, and distributing it to all properties in Kingswood.
- Putting on events aimed at appealing to residents of Kingswood and surrounding areas, such as concerts, quizzes, educational presentations and other entertainment.
- Supporting volunteer groups which develop and maintain public garden areas in the village and remove litter and debris from our streets.
- Fostering a sense of community in Kingswood Village, to link together the residents, village groups, charities and our local businesses.
- Through its drama arm KADDS (Kingswood Amateur Drama and Dance Society), presenting high quality stage productions in the Village Hall. You can read about KADDS here.
The KVCA and KADDS are always keen to hear from those who live and work in or near Kingswood and who share our passion to sustain a community spirit in our village. If you would like to help, or simply want to find out more information, please contact the KVCA Chairman.
We have supporters who help us to deliver The Village Voice, distribute publicity, assist with organising events, undertake ‘front of house’ activities at performances, manage the Hall, tend gardens, pick litter and generally act as KVCA ambassadors in the community. But we are always keen to welcome more volunteers to join our friendly team.
For those who have any interest in acting or other aspects of live productions (set design and painting, props, costume, make-up, lighting, sound, stage management), KADDS would love to hear from you.
The KVCA is managed by a small elected committee which reports to an Annual General Meeting, usually held in April.