Village Halls Week 2021: 25 January – 29 January 2021 – Celebrating 100 Years Together
Village Halls Week is a national celebration of village halls, their volunteers, and the services they offer in their communities.
This last year has brought difficulty to everyone. We have seen rural communities pull through and support one another in every way they can, both online and in supporting neighbours as safely as possible. This year, Village Hall Week 2021 will run from Monday 25 January – Friday 29 January and the spotlight will be on how village halls have been key in supporting their communities both during the pandemic but also in previous times of struggle.
If you would like to promote your village hall, see the tips below on how to get involved. Details of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)‘s programme are also listed:
Monday 25 January 2021
“Village halls can be found in almost every rural community across England and date back nearly 100 years.” Share your hall’s history on social media using the hashtag #villagehallsweek. You could put up old pictures or past flyers, detail significant guests, share an old film or write an article on your history.
Listen to opening speeches by Lord Gardiner, ACRE’s Executive Director Richard Quallington and their in-house expert Deborah Clarke celebrating a century of village halls. ACRE will be posting these to their social media feeds: Twitter and Facebook.
Tuesday 26 January 2021
“Village halls support a great range of activities and events which combat loneliness and support the local economy.” Use this day to shout about what you usually offer your community when not in lockdown. Let us know what you usually provide – from fitness activities to shops, pubs, entertainment, schools and wi-fi hubs – and your plans for 2021 so that we can help spread the word.
Share stories about your hall on social media and by signing ACRE’s Doomsday Book, telling ACRE about the activities and events you host and the difference it has made to people in your community.
Wednesday 27 January 2021
“Village halls have shown great resilience in the face of Coronavirus” How have you survived the lockdowns and closures? Perhaps your hall has been saved by fundraising and the support of your community or a grant from an organisation. Share your survival stories on Wednesday 27 January using the hashtag #villagehallsweek. Why not contact your local BBC radio station to feature your story.
Join an online event hosted by ACRE and sponsored by Norris & Fisher to find out how your village hall can recover from Covid-19. Register your place
Thursday 28 January 2021
“What does the future hold for village halls?” (with a focus on environmental and energy efficiency) We want to hear from pioneering halls. Have you got PV Panels? Do you have a vegetable garden? Do you provide electric car charging points? What does your hall do to help the community look after the environment?
Be a part of a conversation about what the future holds for village halls and join an online event hosted by ACRE sponsored by Utility Aid to find out how your village halls can contribute to a zero-carbon future. Register your place
Friday 29 January 2021
“A review of the week and plans for the future”
Listen to a podcast sponsored by Allied Westminster with Louise Beaton OBE discussing the history of village halls. Louise is a special adviser to Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and was recently recognised in the New Year’s Honours for her long-standing dedication to village and community halls. Register your interest.
For more information about ACRE’s online events during the week, please see the ACRE webpage.
Keep a lookout on our social media channels throughout the week, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #VillageHallsWeek!
