Photo: village hall Cumbria

Community Buildings

Community Buildings, Village Halls and other assets owned by the community such as playing fields, are at the very heart of communities. ACT supports the volunteers who manage these facilities through our free Community Buildings Service which offers:

Email your query to info@cumbriaaction.org.uk and an ACT Officer will be in touch to help.

Become an ACT Supporter for your community building, to receive our Community Buildings Updates and event invitations.

Read ACT's Blog celebrating village halls and why they're important

National guidance and model documents

Whether you're looking for information on a specific topic; reviewing your hall's policies; or newly joined your village hall committee, we've got a wide range of specialist ACRE Village Hall Information Sheets and model documents available free to halls in Cumbria. Check the  and contact us with your request.

Each ACRE information sheet covers a wide range of information, with useful appendices and model documents, and the titles don't always do them justice. Our Village Hall Managing Risks Toolkit includes a helpful summary of each, so you know which to choose. 

Help with capital improvement projects

Bursary offer to community buildings for up to 90% of the cost of a Building Condition Survey and / or Energy Audit. Read more

Net Zero Design Guide for Village Halls - a simple, practical resource to help hall committees planning to 'go green'. Also introduces different technologies available and provides case studies. Read more

0% VAT on installation of ESMs (Energy Saving Materials) for village and community halls, introduced from 1st February 2024 until March 2027 read more. It's important to inform your insurer of improvement works; in particular, any plans for solar PV, battery storage and EV car charge points, read more.

Also take a look at ACT's Guide to Funders or contact us for further advice and support.

Partnerships

ACT has partnered with A Muir Surveying; easyfundraising; Utility Aid and Wrigleys Solicitors, to help your hall with professional surveys, online fundraising, saving money on your energy bills, and legal advice. Read more 

Energy switching

NEW! Get instant access to commercial utility quotations from a list of reliable credit-vetted energy suppliers at any time. Utility Aid has launched a new switching site, giving you the ability to compare prices and switch your hall's utility provider online, at a time that is convenient to you. Visit the switching site or read more.

Hallmark Quality Standard for Halls

Hallmark is a nationally recognised award, promoting good management and practice by Community Building Management Committees. Halls with Hallmark can benefit from insurance discounts and gain recognition on funding applications as the award acts as evidence of the high standard of the committee members and the merit of the hall. Read more

Safeguarding in Village Halls

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. ACT is raising awareness of the measures that can be taken by halls across Cumbria to protect individuals from harm, and supporting volunteer hall committees to ensure they have the knowledge and confidence to operate in a safe and welcoming manner for all who use their facility. Read more

Community Buildings Directory

Our Community Buildings Directory provides information on village halls and community buildings in Cumbria - useful for anyone looking for a venue, and a great opportunity for halls to promote what they have to offer. The directory now also has a new, improved mapping function. Contact us to list your hall.

National Village Halls Week

Village Halls Week is an annual national campaign shining a spotlight on the contribution England’s 10,000+ village halls make to rural communities. It is an opportunity for hall management committees to celebrate their work and get inspiration from others. Read more

Cumbria Village Halls Network

Make contact with other hall committees across the county by by joining the ‘Cumbria Village Hall Network’ Facebook group - a closed group for anyone involved in running a hall in Cumbria. Simply search for the group on Facebook and request to join.

    What people say about ACT

    • “ Fountain of knowledge/library so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel”

      Sian Howe

      Clifton Village Hall

    • “ Though we have quite a lot of work to do, I think we both felt reassured and you have given us very useful pointers. We will work on everything, if we have concerns or queries, we’ll get back to you”

      Gill Sykes

      Casterton Village Hall

    • “ It is a very supportive group. Can keep in touch with Village Hall matters through ACT.”

      Pamela Bishop

      Burgh-By-Sands Public Hall

    • “ It provides valuable information for village hall Trustees”

      Bridget Mason

      Plumbland Village Hall

    • “ they keep people up to date with what is happening in other communities and village halls. ACT are really valuable for the help and advice that they offer.”

      Janice Barker

      Harriston Village Hall CIO

    • “ They are invaluable to rural communities”

      Helen Sheilds

      Ravenstonedale Community Hall

    • “ It’s a fantastic organisation doing important work and the staff are exceptional!”

      Julia Wilson

    • “ Good advice is always available. We have benefitted greatly over the last 3 years from the support given by ACT”

      Anne Holroyd

      Kirkby-in-Furness Community Centre

    • “ They provide such a lot of valuable information”

      Anne Wappett

      Ravenstonedale Community Hall

    • “ ACT gives free information and resources”

      Keith Rhodes

      Gosforth Public Hall

    Relevant Resources

    Guidance Sheets

    Research & Other Publications

    Toolkits & Workbooks

    • Guide To Funders 2024-2025

      Funders guide for village halls and other community groups. Lists many funders supporting community projects in Cumbria.

    • Warm Spots Toolkit

      Updated January 2024. Warm Spots are warm and safe places to be this winter. They are places in the community that give people a warm space and a warm welcome. This toolkit is for people who are thinking about setting up a Warm Spot in their community. It gives you information on  what a Warm Spot needs to offer, how to register your Warm Spot, tips for running a welcoming  and safe Warm Spot. 

      First produced in October 2022 in response to the cost of living crisis, the Warm Spot Toolkit has been revised and updated for January 2024.

    • Village Halls Managing Risks Toolkit

      This toolkit aims to help village hall committees consider the main risks for their hall and to access further information to help manage these risks effectively. Risk is often a topic which focuses on Health and Safety, or a crisis situation. This toolkit takes a more holistic approach to the range of risks for halls, and categorises these under four key headings of: Law and Governance; People; Money; and Buildings.

    • ACT Community Exchanges Toolkit

      Community Exchanges are regular community-led events that bring people together, provide services and information and reduce social isolation. This toolkit brings together a series of guidance sheets and video interviews from Crosthwaite Exchange, 'The Vic' Community Cafe in Culgaith, and Bolton Exchange, to support other communities looking to start their own Exchange or Community Cafe.

    • Questionnaire Design Guide

      Being able to put together a survey which is easy to understand, and will give you the information you need, is a useful skill for any community group, particularly those doing Community Led Plans. This guide provides an introduction to writing questionnaires, the types of questions to avoid, how to ensure your survey is accessible to all, and how to analyse the results.

    Case Studies

    Videos

    Kirkby Lonsdale Community Assets March 2013

    Community Interest Company initiated by the Town Council.

    Tebay Church Vestry Refurbishment Feb 2013

    Community Project involving training, events and local cultural / environmental heritage promotion.

    Skelsmergh Hall Refurbishment March 2011

    High Wray Hall Refurbishment March 2011

    Culgaith 'The Vic' Community Cafe Oct 2010

    Lamplugh VH Film Nights Sept 2010

    Many thanks to the following organisations for supporting our work with community buildings:

    Logo: Eden District Council Logo: Allerdale Borough Council Logo: South Lakeland District Council Logo: DEFRA Logo: Lottery Community Fund