Happy New Year to you all. How interested were we to receive our local council’s January email newsletter and to read about the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund? We then wondered how many village halls were thatched? How useful any funding cam be during these challenging times. It was decided to do some investigation. A quick search on line identified a couple easily. Our thanks go to Elizabeth Jones for her prompt response with pictures of Bishops Cannings thatched Community Village Hall, used in this article.
The Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund
Last year, in May, Defra announced a £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls fund. This was marking Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Its aim is to support modernisation and improvement of village halls.
What is the Village Halls Fund for
These grants are for capital improvements only. We understand it is for projects to upgrade, extend or improve facilities or where capital items need to be purchased.
This Village Halls Fund is not for
These grants cannot be used for repair, maintenance or renewal work. It is therefore unlikely to be a fund for rethatching. This may, however, be useful for implementing other plans – freeing up other funds for maintenance?
Who is administering this Village Halls Fund
This fund is administered by ACRE (Action Communities in Rural England). We had not heard of this organisation before but felt that, although we are a bit late to the party, we should let our readership know.
More Details on this Fund
This is a two-step application process and Stage 1 applications can be made until 20th January 2023. So there is still time to investigate and even apply.
Thatched Village Halls
This information should be useful to those who didn’t know about it, especially our thatched village hall new friends. Perhaps you have already applied for this village halls funding!! but if you haven’t here’s hoping our letting you know about it means you have a short window to do so. Click here for more information.
Any pictures of your village halls are always welcome at the Thatch Advice Centre, and we are happy to credit the photographer in any use of them.
Keep us posted.
