Village Halls Week 2023 (January 23 to 29) will celebrate the many ways these volunteer-run rural community buildings from support local residents, groups and businesses, particularly during difficult times.
As the country endures a cost-of-living crisis, many village halls are providing their communities with a place to keep warm, access services and socialise, without the expense of travelling elsewhere.
Halls across the two counties will be taking part in the national campaign week, showcasing what they are doing for their community, and the opportunities they provide to people locally that may not otherwise exist.
Celebrating
Activities for Village Halls Week, beginning Monday 23 January, will include open days at certain local halls.
Research conducted by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), which 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, they also host vital services such as post offices, doctors’ surgeries and convenience shops, whilst supporting an estimated 50,000 people whose livelihoods depend on use of these buildings.
“From places for people to celebrate, discover hobbies or enjoy exercise, to housing pre-schools, lunch clubs and – more recently – facilities like post offices and health services which are disappearing from rural communities in their traditional form, Village Halls are vital spaces for their communities,” added Charlotte. “This winter in particular, we’re seeing halls seeking to become ‘warm hubs’ - a place for people to come together in a warm, welcoming environment away from the pressures they may be facing heating their own homes.
“We’d love to lots of people drop into these events to explore what their local hall has to offer.”
Village Halls Week takes place from Monday, January 23, to Sunday 29 January 2023.