Village Hall Conversations

02.12.22

Last month CRCC held its first Village Hall Conversation - a networking event for volunteers involved in running village halls and community buildings across West Cornwall. The idea was developed following a conversation with a newly appointed village hall trustee who was keen to meet up and talk with other volunteers running village halls to share ideas and challenges.

The event, kindly hosted by Praa Sands Community Centre, saw sixteen volunteer trustees come together to share their ideas, successes and frustrations. The volunteers heard from Liz Wilkin and Nikki George of CRCC – sharing ideas for new village hall activities brought back from Denmark as well as providing practical information to help hall volunteers navigate current challenges. We heard about a new Village Hall Fund – the Queens Platinum Jubilee fund as well as details of how to get involved in Village Halls’ Week – a national campaign which takes place in January to celebrate Village Halls.

Most importantly we also heard from the halls themselves who shared their own successes, including a community café which takes donations instead of charging per item, a community lottery which contributes to the hall’s fundraising efforts, how to set up a film club, a community re-use stall which sells donated items and generates funds for the hall as well as details of halls which were opening to provide vital warm spaces this winter. Hall representatives shared ideas and contact details and neighbouring halls discussed ways of working more closely and supporting each other’s activities. There was a real buzz by the end and everyone present agreed that they would like to come together again as the afternoon had been so valuable and enjoyable.

It is hoped that another gathering can be arranged for six months time and that participants will keep in touch with each other in the meantime.