Village Halls Week is a national campaign, shining a spotlight on the contribution England’s 10,000+ village halls make to rural communities.
It is an opportunity for hall management committees to celebrate their work and get inspiration from others. The campaign celebrates the many ways volunteer-run rural community buildings support local residents, groups and businesses, particularly during difficult times.
ACRE's sixth annual campaign will look at how village halls can provide warm, welcoming and inclusive spaces, something which is especially important as the country faces a cost-of-living crisis.
Rural communities have come to rely on the humble village hall as a place to keep warm, access basic services and socialise without the difficulty and expense of travelling elsewhere.
Village Halls Week is an opportunity for halls to showcase what they are doing for their community and the opportunities they provide to people locally that would not otherwise exist.
Activities will include open days at local halls and an engaging social media campaign from ACRE with touching stories from users of community buildings.
Halls are encouraged to hold open days and share their stories on social media using the hashtag #VillageHallsWeek
Research conducted by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), who organises the annual campaign, found that in 60% of countryside areas, community buildings are the only place for local people to socialise.
Aside from hosting a wide range of social and recreational activities for residents, village halls also host vital services such as post offices, doctors' surgeries and convenience shops whilst supporting an estimated 50,000 people whose livelihoods depend on the use of these buildings.
Deborah Clarke, ACRE’s Village Halls Manager, said:
“If it wasn’t for village halls, many people in rural communities would find themselves isolated and cut off from basic amenities. The past three years have been difficult for everyone. But during this time, village halls have adapted and developed new ways to help residents, from the sewing of face masks during the first Covid lockdown to Warm Hubs providing a haven for people struggling to pay their energy bills, and community fundraisers for Ukrainian refugees. That’s why members of the ACRE Network will be joined by many other organisations next week in celebrating the way these volunteer-run buildings are the glue that binds rural communities together by offering warm, welcoming, and inclusive spaces”.
Upchurch Village Hall
At the centre of village life for over 60 years
At the beginning of this Village Halls Week, we would like to say a big thank you to the Village Hall Management Committee, which oversees the day-to-day running of our village hall. Also, to the booking secretary, caretaker and the many volunteers who help out throughout the year.
Committee members are volunteers who meet regularly to ensure the smooth running of the village hall for all the local groups and organisations that hire it regularly and for those who choose the venue for their private parties or a special family occasion.
Upchurch Village Hall has undergone a major refurbishment in recent years thanks to the hard work of committee members, generous donations from numerous organisations, individuals and the proceeds of fundraising events held at the village hall.
Working together, everybody involved has made our village hall look smart and fit for purpose once again, ensuring it remains at the centre of village life for many more years to come.
Thank you for everything you do 👏🏼
#VillageHallsWeek takes place from Monday the 23rd to Sunday the 29th of January 2023.
To read more about Village Halls Week, visit: www.acre.org.uk
Upchurch Matters
