Community Buildings
Celebrating communities over the summer!
One of the great things about supporting community buildings, including village valls and community centres, across Hampshire, is learning about all the brilliant, and often innovative things that they do, all of which enhances the communities they are located in and often far beyond. But sometimes it’s important to celebrate some very traditional, evergreen activities that they do, and this time of year is one of those where one of those activities is going on... read more »
Protection of premises: new legislation on the way
Draft anti-terrorism legislation affecting public premises As you might have seen, the Government is preparing a new piece of legislation that will place requirements on all but the smallest public venues to address the risk of a terrorism attack on their premises. Our national partner charity ACRE have been liaising with the Home Office and Defra to try and make the legislation reasonable and proportionate in terms of what it requires of community venues,... read more »
Village Halls are the Heart of a Community!
This week is village halls week and Action Hampshire are using this week to advocate for these fantastic spaces, alongside all the other amazing organisations including ACRE, who are shouting from the rooftops about how vital these spaces are for rural communities. Preparing for a big campaign week in the comms department means we spend time thinking about different angles and what elements of the topic we can champion. This got me thinking about my... read more »
Village Halls Week Press Release
News release from Action Hampshire: Thursday 26 Jan 2023 Village Halls Week 2023 is celebrating the many ways these volunteer-run rural community buildings support local residents, groups, and businesses, particularly during difficult times. As the country endures 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 expense of travelling elsewhere. Halls across... read more »
Village Halls Week 2023
From Monday 23 to Sunday 29 January, we're celebrating the impact of village and community halls across Hampshire. Together with our national partners ACRE, available via this link, and the other rural development charities that comprise the ACRE Network, we want to highlight the impact that community buildings have in our villages and small towns. Read on to see how you can get involved! The trustees and staff that keep these community... read more »
Fuel and electricity costs
The cost of fuel and electricity has risen enormously over the last few months, and is widely expected to rise still more. Non-domestic users don't even have the small comfort of the unit price cap that has been set for households. We want to help you get through this difficult period, while also making sure the Government is well aware of the potential impact on England's community facilities. Here are some things you can do,... read more »
Insurance for community buildings
Insurance is an essential issue for all community buildings. Your organisation must have insurance cover for your buildings and contents, public liability and (if you have any paid staff) employer’s liability. You may also wish to consider insurance for money while it is being moved or stored away from your building, cover for theft by a committee member or employee, personal accident cover and trustee indemnity insurance. Several companies offer specialist policies for community... read more »
Village Halls Week 2022
From Monday 24 to Sunday 30 January, we're celebrating the impact of village and community halls across Hampshire. Together with our national partners ACRE, available via this link, and the other rural development charities that comprise the ACRE Network, we want to highlight the impact that community buildings have in our villages and small towns. Read on to see how you can get involved! The trustees and staff that keep these community... read more »
Safeguarding for community halls
What are your responsibilities? It's sometimes said that village hall charities don't have much responsibility for ensuring people using the venue are safe from harm, because that's up to the organisers of all the different activities that take place in halls. Obviously it's true that hirers have a key role in ensuring (as best they can) the safety and well-being of their participants, but the village hall committee has an important role too. Guidance documents and... read more »
Village Halls Week 2021
Running from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January Next week is Village Halls Week, a celebration of the volunteers who run England's 10,000+ village halls and the difference they make to their communities. The 2021 campaign, led by our national partner charity ACRE, available via this link, will be a celebration of how village halls are survivors. Many have been bringing people together in rural communities since the 1920s. And in the... read more »
Opening your community building after lockdown
This is our page of covid-19 guidance for the charity trustees and staff of community buildings. For our community buildings guidance home page please click this link. Step 4 of the Government's roadmap - from Monday 19 July We have now moved into Step 4 of the Government's roadmap of easing the pandemic restrictions. This means most legal restrictions have been lifted - for full details of the general picture see read more »
Village Hall Safeguarding Week 2020
See their website via this link for more details, or click this link for information on the event It's sometimes said that village hall charities don't have much responsibility for ensuring people are safe from harm, because that's up to the organisers of all the different activities that take place in halls. Obviously it's true that hirers have a key role in ensuring (as best they can) the safety and... read more »
National survey reveals social and economic benefit of community halls
Earlier in 2020, Action Hampshire supported ACRE in carrying out its ten-yearly survey of community buildings across England. 2,109 organisations replied, with a tremendous 78 in Hampshire. Many thanks to all who took the time to complete the survey. You can access the full report from ACRE's website by following this link but here are some key points. Key headlines Over 60% of respondents said their building was the only public... read more »
Community buildings - guidance for hosting pre-schools
Guidance for community halls and centres with a pre-school Community centres and similar buildings are currently required by law to be closed, except for providing 'essential voluntary activities or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency)'. View the legislation (clause 7) via this link. Pre-schools qualify as an exception as long as they... read more »
Community buildings - financial support for you
Government support for village halls and community centres If your organisation runs a community hall or centre then you can probably claim up to £25,000 from the Government's Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant scheme using this link. This is for organisations (including charities) that manage premises which fall within the business rates system. It's important to note that charities qualify for this grant even if you don't actually pay any business rates. All premises run... read more »
Important coronavirus update for community halls and associations
Action Hampshire has received information for community halls and associations from specialist insurance company Allied Westminster. On the point about loss of revenue / earnings insurance, please check your policy and clarify with your insurers if need be; cover does differ from company to company. Regarding the coronavirus outbreak, Allied Westminster say: Coronavirus and Village Halls: Loss of revenue cover comes into force only after damage to property caused by an insured peril. It is... read more »
Connect with your district CVS!
Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) The district-based CVSs organise a range of events and activities, including training on a variety of topics. They also know about local grant schemes and can help you find new volunteers. Make sure you are connected up with the CVS that covers your area. For contact details visit the Hampshire CVS Network website using this link. Community awareness For community buildings in the Fareham area, One Community’s Hayley Hamlett is organising a... read more »
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Two ways of reducing our impact on the world Repair Cafés Velmore Community Centre in Chandlers Ford has recently started hosting a repair café. It runs on the last Saturday of each month, from 10am to 1pm and you can bring clothing, computers, bikes, or electrical items in need of repair. Contact the Centre using this link for more information on the repair café. There are Repair Cafés around the world, with plenty... read more »
Major village hall grant awards
Congratulations... ...to the trustees and all involved with the village halls at Oakhanger and Braishfield. Both organisations have been awarded a grant through the national Village Hall Improvement Grant scheme, to help them improve and extend their halls. The scheme is funded by Defra and managed by ACRE, our England-wide partner charity. £1.2 million of funding has so far been awarded to a total of 21 rural community halls through the grant scheme, with up to... read more »
The Village comes together!
For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! Four Marks Village Hall Frank Maloney, Trustee During a roof survey in 2019 it was apparent that the flat felt roof of our Village Hall had ‘bubbled’ and was in need of replacement. Being environmentally aware, it was decided to bring the thermal insulation up to the current standard. We sought... read more »
"In Love Lane we be!"
For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! Thank you Petersfield for sharing this beautiful poem! Petersfield Community Centre There’s painting and scrabble and bridge groups galore There’s chess and there’s science and oh so much more. Would you like to keep fit, lose weight and be slim? We’re sure all our classes will help you get trim. Do you want to learn ballet, your kids learn to dance? Stretch... read more »
Throw back Thursday - Quirky... East Boldre Village Hall
For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! The East Boldre Village Hall is a unigue, interesting hall having had a number of recent, significant events and it is quirky indeed! East Boldre was the site of one of the world’s first flying schools between 1910 and 1912, and the airfield was taken over by the Royal... read more »
Throw back Thursday - ‘The dog that saved the Village Hall’
For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! The Hall was built by public subscription. Records show that funds were raised from fetes, dances, jumble sales, whist drives, concerts, bridge tournaments, the sale of a dog (for a guinea) and donations. Some of the villagers donated money to purchase a brick - older members of the village... read more »
Throw back Thursday - Old Basing Village Hall
Old Basing Village Hall For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! The village of Old Basing, just to the east of Basingstoke town, has a thriving and bustling village hall. The charity that manages it was registered in 1980 and the hall itself (replacing a much older building) was completed in 1982. As is often the way,... read more »
Throw back Thursday - The History of Bartley Village Hall
For Village Halls week 2020 we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! Bartley Village Hall At the beginning of the 20th century, much of the population of Lower Bartley worked on the Goldenhayes estate owned by the Howard family. To be able to attend a Sunday Church service, they would have to make their way, usually on foot, to the parish... read more »
Throw back Thursday - Colden Common Community Association
It's Village Halls week and we are celebrating the contribution that some of our members have to their community by sharing the history of their hall/community space! Colden Common Community Association, available via this link, was formed in 1985, to raise money to build and maintain a Community Centre as a meeting place for a growing number of groups and societies. The foundations were laid in 1991, and Colden Common Community Centre was... read more »
Places to socialise, learn, celebrate and more!
Village Halls Week: 20-26 January 2020 It's Village Halls Week! We’re joining in with the England-wide celebration of rural community spaces and the people whose time and dedication keep them going. Village Halls Week is organised by ACRE, our national partner charity. The week was launched on Monday at the House of Commons in London, with the kind support of Defra Minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble, who you can find out... read more »
Share your history...
Discover more about our Village Halls Week through this link! ACRE, available via this link, is our national partner charity, and are organising the event! And they're looking for village halls across England to take part - please use this week as an opportunity to publicise your building and your organisation! You can tell people about the various activities and groups that take place at your hall, the facilities you... read more »
Grants and funding database
Our partner organisation Basingstoke Voluntary Action maintains a database of grant schemes and other funding sources. It’s free to use so just go to their website via this link to get started, and also browse through the information about other fundraising ideas such as: Online donation / crowdfunding systems Ways of getting support from local businesses Planning your fundraising strategy Here at Action Hampshire we have a list of funding sources specifically aimed at community buildings – both for the... read more »