21st Century Community Halls Project Update

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As we enter the third year of the 21st Century Community Halls Project, we are pleased to share the progress we’ve made. It’s been a busy and productive period, and we are excited about the work ahead.

Consultations and Reports
We’ve completed consultations and reports with several halls, including Hampstead Norreys, Leckhampstead, Holyport, and Hampstead Marshall, bringing the total number of consultations to 55. If your hall would benefit from a consultation or follow-up meeting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with David.Jennings@ccberks.org.uk

New Partnership with NICRE
We’ve partnered with the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) to enhance the project. We’re currently in the setup phase, working on an impact measurement framework, establishing ways of working, and planning for wider stakeholder engagement.

Training and Support for Halls
We continue to offer training sessions tailored to support halls in developing and executing action plans. After attending training in 2024, many halls are now working on their business plans to ensure long-term sustainability, apply for grants, and maintain a vibrant future.

What to Expect from a Consultation
Each consultation involves a detailed visit to your hall, during which we review over 120 questions across seven key areas:

  • The Building and the Organisation
  • Sustainability
  • Environment
  • The Fabric of the Building
  • Energy
  • Accessibility

Following the review, we provide a comprehensive report and a pack of supporting materials for your hall’s management team. After considering the findings, we ask trustees to draw up an action plan focused on the key areas to address. The CCB team is here to assist with advice and guidance to help turn these plans into successful projects.

If your hall hasn’t yet had a consultation, please reach out to schedule one. Thanks to the generous support of The National Lottery Community Fund, this service is FREE.

We look forward to supporting your hall’s journey towards a brighter future!

21st Century Community Halls: End of Year 2 of this five year project

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The 21st Century Community Halls project has made significant progress, conducting initial consultations with halls and increasingly focusing on follow-up reviews. With the recent addition of a new Project Development Officer, David, the project has gained momentum and has introduced initiatives to address common themes shared by many halls.

The Initial Consultation: We have completed 13 further 21st Century Community Hall initial reviews during this period. Each review is completed during a visit to the facility with additional information provided before and after. The review includes over 120 questions divided into 7 parts:

  • The Building and the Organisation
  • Sustainability
  • Environment
  • The Fabric of the Building
  • Energy
  • Accessibility
  • After the consultation a comprehensive report is prepared for the Hall’s management team
    with a pack of suitable supporting information. After considering the contents, comments, and actions, we ask Trustees to draw up an action plan for the key issues they want to address. CCB then assist with advice for the resulting actions and projects that these form into.

The Follow-Up Reviews: CCB seeks a follow-up with the management committee approximately every 6 months via a call, or a visit depending on the needs of the
committee and on the activity and challenges. To date we have completed 22 formal follow-up reviews of halls we have consulted with.

Learning Partner Selection: We have now selected a Learning Partner to help us evaluate the project, and will begin working with them in January 2025.


One-to-One Support: During this period, in-depth one-to-one support has been given to halls for their development actions:

  • Providing best practices and examples for Business Planning to 15 Trustees from 14 different Village Halls in Berkshire.
  • Writing, reviewing and successfully obtaining funding from The Platinum Jubilee Fund.
  • Developing Fundraising plans with three separate committees and delivering Fundraising training around ‘evidencing need’ to 8 trustees from 6 different Village
    Halls.
  • Designing, conducting and analysing Community Consultations with three separate committees.
  • Risk review and support with one new member.
  • Supporting a member hall in updating its governing document.
  • Supporting a Village Hall to review plans for a complete rebuild in favour of a major refurbishment (due to financial restrictions and community feedback)
  • Renegotiation of a lease for one Community Hall.

    If you would like your hall to participate in the 21st Century Village Halls project, please email me. kate.meads@ccberks.org.uk and we can arrange a time for a consultation.