Village Halls

The village hall can be the most valuable asset of any community. A properly maintained building of adequate size, well kept and well managed, can provide facilities for social, educational and recreational activities for all ages.

NACRE maintains a Current List with details and contacts and operates a Village Halls Advisory Service providing a wide range of practical help, advice and support to management committees running a village, community or church hall in this county. The Service is backed up by a support network of thirty-eight village/community halls advisers, countrywide together with national ACRE.

Managing a village hall or community centre demands a wide range of skills and information to meet the ever-changing requirements set by local authority and national legislation. The Service we offer through our specialist Village Halls Adviser is direct to the volunteers who run these essential resources for the local community the hall serves.

The Advisory Service also has a voice through the National Village Halls Forum, which in turn provides a national lobbying voice for village halls enabling exchange of information and ideas to county, regional and national organisations dedicated to the promotion of the use and development of village halls throughout England, of which there are some 8,900 halls.

We can provide help and guidance on (to name but a few!):

	Charitable Status and Charity Law
	Grants from County, District & Borough Councils
	Plan, Design & Build
	Tips for Big Lottery
	Health & Safety Policy
	Premises Licences
	Charitable Trusts and Foundations
	Holding Trustees
	Problems with buildings
	Constitution of your Management Committee
	Insurance Rate relief
	Covenants Leases
	TEN’s (Temporary Event Notices)
	Custodian Trustees
	Legislation
	Disability Discrimination Act and Employment Law
	Trust Deeds
	Day to day running of the Hall
	Licensing Management issues
	Equal Opportunities
	Policy Loans
	Fire Safety & Risk Assessment
	Maintenance & Improvements
	Managing Trustees
	Fundraising
	Performing Rights Society
	VAT and village halls
	Good Practice
	Widening the use of your Hall

Our Village Halls Forum Service affiliation scheme also entitles members to the following:

• FREE copy of our ‘Village Halls Forum Service Newsletter’ produced bi-monthly by the Village Halls Adviser, full of up-to-the minute information and articles.
• FREE copies of Northamptonshire ACRE’s magazine ‘Village Viewpoint’ and other selected publications.
• Comprehensive information sheets and other publications can be obtained at a reduced members rate.
• Opportunity to take part in training events, workshops, seminars and conferences at favourable rates.

HALLMARK SCHEME- A Quality Standards Sheme for Village Halls. To find out more, click here

How do you find out more? Contact Glen Marriott, Northamptonshire ACRE’s Village Halls Adviser who will be happy to discuss our services for village and community halls with you and also forward the necessary application form to you. Glen’s direct dial telephone number is 01604 825888.