Village halls represent the largest network of community facilities in rural Britain, outside churches. Most village halls are registered charities managed by a local committee which represents user organisations and the public. Their purpose is to provide a community hall and meeting place for the benefit of local people.

Download: The A-Z of Village Halls (PDF 33KB) to learn even more about village halls in Bedfordshire and to visit some of their websites.

A village hall is a very important resource for its community, providing for a wide range of educational, welfare, sports and leisure activities. With the demise of Post Offices and Village shops, it is increasingly becoming the base for such services, along with part-time doctors’ surgeries and clinics, thus fulfilling much the same role as community centres in urban areas.

Membership of BRCC can offer the following to village/community hall committees:

• Regular email updates on issues affecting community buildings
• Latest funding opportunities
• Village Hall Bulletins
• Training events on a range of topics
• Access to a “members only” area of BRCC’s website (currently being updated)
• Written publications and Information Sheets (42)
• Advice and information, either over the telephone by letter, email or at a meeting – see our Services Guide (link on front page)
• Information about grants, lottery applications and other funding sources
• Charity based queries
• Lobbying of local authorities and central government

For general information about this area contact:
Sue Norman, (01234) 832614