The Community Buildings Service provides a wide range of practical help and advice for anyone running a village, church or community hall in Warwickshire (North Warwickshire, Rugby, Warwick, Stratford), Solihull and Coventry.
The Service is backed-up by a support network of thirty-five village halls advisors countrywide - so if we do not know the answer to a question, we certainly know someone who does! The Service also has a voice through The National Village Halls Forum, which in turn provides a national lobbying voice for community buildings enabling exchange of information and ideas to County, Regional and National organisations dedicated to the promotion of the use and development of around 8,000 community buildings throughout England.
We can provide help and guidance on:
- Charitable status and charity law
- Health and safety policies
- Hiring and letting charges
- Insurance
- IT suites and internet cafes
- Leases and licensing
- Legislation: Disability Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act and Employment Law
- Licensing regulations
- Post offices
- Rating relief
- Shops in village halls
- VAT
Model documentation, guides and good practice examples are also available.
We publish a regular newsletter, run training sessions for management committee members, and have information on grants and loans for community buildings.
If you would like to subscribe please complete a membership form or contact the Community Buildings Development Officer.
ACRE has recently produced two reports concerning rural community buildings:
- 'Rural Community Buildings in England' which gives an insight into the workings of nearly 10,000 rural community buildings
- 'The Economic Impact of Community Buildings in Rural Communities' which demonstrates that investment in rural community buildings has a multiplier effect
For further information regarding Community Buildings support please contact:
Sarah Brooke-Taylor