Poolside Bar Music Nights - January and February 2023 at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Village Halls Week 2023

Warm, welcoming and inclusive spaces

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 👏🏼 

To hire Upchurch Village Hall, please visit: www.upvh.co.uk

#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

Vehicle Exhaust Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/9018/23

Between 22:15 and 23:30 on Friday the 13th of January, somebody cut out and stole the exhaust from a Hyundai parked in Watling Drive, Newington.

If you have any information that could help investigators, please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

Upchurch Players - AGM

Upchurch Players will be holding their AGM in The Crown, Upchurch at 7:00pm on Thursday the 16th of February.

If you're interested in being involved in their next Panto in any way, please come along.

Website: www.upchurchplayers.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Horticultural Society - Meetings and Events 2023

UHS has lots happening in 2023, and we have worked to ensure it's all fun, educational and sociable.

UHS meetings, talks and shows are held in the barn at the rear of 97 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, and begin at 7:30pm. Event times are TBC. Talks and trips are for members only. Look out for show times and details nearer the date.

AGM

Wednesday 1st February

Re-election confirmation of roles. Plus short talk and Q&A

“Planning for the year ahead”

Chris S

Talk

Wednesday 1st March

“The work of Plant Heritage and the National Collections” 

Talk

Wednesday 5th April

“A year at Doddington Place Gardens” 

April Plant Sale in The Paddock

Saturday 22nd April

Meeting

Wednesday 3rd May

Doddington Place Gardens

Sunday 14th May / Sunday 21st May 

Planning for July show

Wednesday 21st June

UHS BBQ - Details TBC 

July Show

Saturday 1st July

Meeting at Upchurch Allotments

Wednesday 5th July 

Meeting

Wednesday 2nd August 

Farm Visit

Thursday 10th August

Details TBC

Talk

Wednesday 6th September

“How artists and garden designers lead us up the garden path”

September Show

Saturday 16th September

Trip to RHS Hyde Hall

Sunday 1st October

Planning for October Show & Demonstration

Wednesday 4th October

October Show 

Saturday 14th October

Role Re-election & Talk

Wednesday 1st November

“A gardener’s response to climate change”

Christmas Social Evening at

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Friday 1st December

For membership enquiries, please Email: upchurchsociety@gmail.com

For more information, visit: https://linktr.ee/upchurchhorticulturalsociety or scan the QR Code below.

Tracy Wells - Membership Secretary
Upchurch Horticultural Society

PFHS - Baby & Children's Nearly New Sale at Upchurch Village Hall

The Parents and Friends of Holywell School are hosting a Baby and Children’s Nearly New Sale at Upchurch Village Hall on Sunday the 5th of March, between 11:00am and 1:00pm.

There will be lots on sale, including clothes, shoes, toys, bed sheets, books, maternity items and more.

Entrance is £1 for adults and free for children.

A stall pitch costs £15, and a table and chairs are provided. If you are interested in having a stall at the event, please Email: office@holywell.kent.sch.uk

There will also be a donations stall run by the PFHS, where all the money goes towards the school. If you have any items that are in a good, clean condition that you wish to donate, please drop them off at the school office by Tuesday the 28th of February - Thank you.

Upchurch Matters