Celebrating Village Halls Week 2025
#VillageHallsWeek returns for its eighth year on 17th March to celebrate, encourage and support the efforts of volunteers who keep these important community buildings open. The annual campaign led by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) shines a spotlight on England’s 10,000+ village halls' contribution to bringing communities together.
How to get involved
- Share your photos, stories, and messages showcasing what makes your hall and its volunteers special.
- Use #VillageHallsWeek and tag us on social media - we’d love to celebrate and share your contributions. ACRE has a wealth of resources to help you join in the celebrations.
- Upload a photo of an inspirational hall volunteer to the ACRE volunteer gallery to celebrate the contribution they make to their local hall and community.
As part of the week, Durham Community Action has:
- Recorded a podcast with Louise Beaton, Community Halls Consultant for ACRE who talks to us about her new book 'Halls for All: A History of Village Halls' which highlights the crucial role village halls play in rural communities. Listen to the Village Halls Week 2025 podcast here
- Worked with Louise to develop a guest blog for Durham Community News in which she reflects on writing the Halls for All book with David Clark. Read the blog here
- Developed two case studies to highlight how National Lottery Community Fund grants have made a difference to two community buildings in County Durham:
- Encouraged representatives of community buildings in County Durham to take part in this year's Village Halls Week poem - we are delighted and very grateful to Cornerstones Centre for the Community, Dean Bank and Ferryhill Literary Institute and Great Aycliffe Village Hall for taking part in the poem reading! Listen to the Village Halls Week 2025 poem here
- Organised a Sustainability and Energy event at Jubilee Fields Community Centre in Shildon on 19th March providing information about a new, not-for-profit, community energy initiative installing solar panels and battery systems in community buildings in County Durham - look out for follow-up information coming soon.
