An Introduction to Community Buildings

Village halls and community buildings are crucial to maintaining the fabric of our rural communities.  Not only used for social gatherings, village halls provide a communal space for learning, networking, child care and offering services such as postal, GP and a shop for those less able to travel.  Many village halls are finding new and innovative ways to keep afloat during an economic climate of low available grant funding and increased legislation to adhere to. Sharing best practice, lobbying government and seizing opportunities as they arise (e.g. social enterprise) are all things that village hall committees can do to ensure that continued livelihood of our valued community buildings.

Zeal Monachorum Village Hall in Mid Devon District hosts a variety of weekly activities.  By diversifying their activities the village hall is better placed financially and provides an improved service to the local community 2006.

Meet the Community Buildings Team

Left to Right:  David Kinross (Senior Projects Manager), Dawn Eckhart (Social Enterprise Officer), Charlotte Weedon(Rural Officer), and Penny Thame (Access and Awareness Officer) 2006.

The Village Halls Advice Service has recently expanded and four officers are now available to offer support, information and advice direct to community buildings on a number of different issues.  This is part of CCD’s core work and continuing enablement of communities, the Community Buildings Advice and Information Service is funded in part by the Districts, Devon County Council, and Defra through Government Office of the South West, plus your support through annual membership fees to CCD.

Please do explore the community buildings pages of this website and feel free to contact us with your ideas on how we can improve this website and our service to you: [davidk@devonrcc.org.uk] and [charlotte2@devonrcc.org.uk]

David Kinross
Senior Projects Manager

Charlotte Weedon
Rural Officer