Village halls across England are now able to apply to the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund for grants to improve buildings and facilities.
Launched to mark the occasion of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, the fund recognises the important role that village halls play in supporting rural communities.
Village halls are key cornerstones in the fabric of rural life, providing essential services and bringing people together through social and recreational activities.
They are vital resources for those unable to travel great distances and are key drivers of community cohesion which positively contribute to the health and wellbeing of rural communities. But many are in poor repair and in need of modernisation to better serve the communities that they represent.
The £3 million fund is managed by the charity Action with Communities in Rural England. It is anticipated that the fund will support around 125 village halls over a three-year period.
Village halls interested in applying can request grants from £7,500 to £75,000, and up to a maximum of 20 per cent of eligible project costs. Capital grants will be allocated to support infrastructure improvements, the refurbishment of facilities, such as kitchens and toilets, and measures to improve energy efficiency.
Initial applications to the fund can be made until midnight 20 January 2023. Another window for applications is expected mid-February but the duration of this will depend on the value of unallocated funds remaining.
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:
“Village halls are the beating heart of rural communities across the High Peak. They provide warm, welcoming spaces that bring people together, combat loneliness and support countless livelihoods which is especially important at a time when the rising cost of living if bearing down on many. This fund will help modernise many of these important buildings so they can continue serving local communities and I have written to all Town and Parish Councils in the High Peak to make sure our local communities benefit.
"This will also serve as a lasting tribute to the long, exceptional service of Her Late Majesty The Queen and will support village halls, many of which were built in commemoration of Her Majesty's predecessors, Queen Victoria and King George V. Today, village halls remain a key community asset and efforts to modernise these spaces will ensure that they are used by generations to come."
