Village halls hailed as the heartbeat of rural life
Village hall volunteers celebrating Village Halls Week
16th March 2026
Celebrating the start of Village Halls Week community development charity and village halls specialist, ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT), championed the vital role they play in keeping rural residents healthy, active and connected.
Village hall volunteers from across the county gathered at Braithwaite Institute, near Keswick, on Saturday (March 14) to kick-start the national campaign to share the benefits of health, wellbeing and the pivotal role community buildings play.
Led by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), this year’s Village Halls Week sees each day drawing attention to one of the five NHS steps to wellbeing: Connecting, Being active, Learning, Giving, and Taking notice.
People are being asked to share photographs on social media using #VillageHallsWeek to celebrate what happens at their local hall.
Hellen Aitken, ACT’s Lead Village Hall Advisor, said: “Village halls are more than bricks and mortar, they’re spaces where people exercise, socialise, learn and support each other. They enrich lives for all ages, prevent isolation, and ease pressure on local health services.
“We know when communities are connected people feel happier, healthier and much more engaged. This special week doesn’t only highlight the immeasurable positive impact that these venues have on their communities but is also a big thank you to the thousands of volunteers who keep them up and running.”
“Special thanks to the volunteers from Burgh by Sands, Culgaith, Warcop, Holme, and Newton in Cartmel, who spoke on Saturday about how their halls make a difference, with: coffee mornings, art groups, community walks, ‘Bat and Chat’, sound baths, live performances, exercise classes, ‘Raucous Chorus’, pickleball, and more! Thanks also for the contributions from the North West Ambulance Charity, Arts Out West, Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, and Active Cumbria.”
Helen Leech from Culgaith Village Hall said: “It's Village Halls Week, and I was pleased to take an in-depth look at the Vic Community Café which runs in Culgaith Village Hall every Thursday afternoon. The café provides a steady beat which supports both the hall and the rhythm of life in the village. It allows a range of other activities to flourish, including health walks, a Men in Sheds meetup, a pop choir, and an art group. Volunteering for the café builds skills and confidence. A village hall is an essential conduit for socialising, exchanging information and meeting, and there's nothing like chocolate cake for encouraging a sense of well-being.”
Nick Waterfield from Burgh by Sands Parish Hall said: “Taking part in Village Halls Week is a great chance for us to highlight how we are working in our communities to promote Health and Wellbeing and help people to take part in everyday activities that they love doing.”
Wendy Welburn from Newton in Cartmel Village Hall said: “Our Village Hall is a lovely place where we can all come together to enjoy each other’s company and create memories. Our programme offers a range of activities that promote Health and Wellbeing in the community such as coffee mornings, live performances, classes and village parties. Village Halls Week is a great way to shine the light on the importance of village halls in providing occasions of fun and laughter and facilities for elderly and disabled members of our community, including resources during our not-uncommon power cuts!”
Chris Horn from Warcop Parish Hall 'Bat and Chat' group said: "Bat and Chat is table tennis with a strong social element, helping to reduce loneliness by meeting other people who may have lived locally all their life or are new to the area. It improves mobility and hand to eye coordination almost without realising it as you enjoy the game whilst making sure others also enjoy theirs. Our village hall provides the perfect venue, local, accessible, comfortable and inviting with good storage space for our equipment, some of which was acquired with the help of a grant from Active Cumbria. In the words of one of our participants - "Bat and Chat day is my best day of the week"".
Pat Fell from Holme Parish Hall added “Village Halls Week let's us focus on how important our hall is to our community.”
Deborah Clarke, ACRE’s Rural Evidence and Village Halls Manager, added: “Village Halls Week celebrates connection. Even 10 minutes spent together over a cup of tea can benefit mental and physical health. These halls are the heartbeat of rural life.”
This year’s week is sponsored by Utility Aid, which provides energy help and advice to charities such as village halls, and Hallmaster, whose innovative booking system help volunteers manage their halls efficiently.
Visit ACT's website for more information about Village Halls Week and support for Cumbria’s community buildings.
