A few of us from CVS, along with a number of CVS member groups, were pleased to attend the lively and energetic launch event for this year’s Village Halls Week, brilliantly hosted by Parbold Village Hall.

Organised by Community Futures on behalf of national organisation ACRE, the event brought together hall trustees, managers, volunteers, sector partners and local leaders to celebrate the vital role village halls play in connecting communities to health and wellbeing.  Over 60 attendees from across Lancashire enthusiastically took part in a full programme of speakers, discussions, networking and practical workshops.

Speakers included Cllr Joshua Roberts from Lancashire County Council, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health Lancashire, Kathryn Moffitt from West Lancashire Borough Council and Ashley Dalton MP. They shared reflections on the importance of rural community buildings, local and national public health priorities, the importance of strong community infrastructure and opportunities to strengthen collaboration.

Ashley Dalton MP highlighted how these vital community spaces support the health and wellbeing of people living in rural areas:

‘Whether it was doubling up as a vaccination clinic at the height of the pandemic or providing a space for members of the community to meet and reduce isolation, village halls have always been there to bridge the gap, providing care, support and reassurance right in the hearts of people’s communities’

ACRE’s Chief Executive, Corinne Pluchino, told local village hall managers and trustees:

‘So often, the health of rural people is put at a disadvantage purely because of where they live, with travel to hospitals taking twice as long on average for those living outside a big town or city.  Village halls can help to bring healthcare closer to rural communities and many of them are already supporting rural wellbeing.  We want to use this week to shine a light on all the community activities, be it keep-fit classes, parent and baby mornings or blood pressure clinics, that are making a real and worthwhile difference to the lives of so many’

County Cllr Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, Lancashire County Council, spoke about plans to strengthen civic pride across Lancashire. This included the development of the Civic Pride Action Plan and the introduction of a new Civic Pride Charter, both designed to deepen the connection people feel to their local areas, create more opportunities for involvement, and ensure communities feel informed, valued, and proud of where they live.

After a delicious Lancashire hotpot and apple pie sourced from a local caterer, the day moved into two practical workshops:

• Designing a Village Halls Advisory/Support Service. Led by Community Futures, this session explored what trustees value most, where support could be strengthened, and how we can develop future services in partnership with the sector.
• Community Energy & Resilient Rural Infrastructure. Hosted by Lancashire County Council and joined by Bretherton Energy Co-Op, this workshop looked at community energy opportunities and how village halls can be part of a more sustainable, resilient rural future.

Lots of photos here:  Pictures from the day