Community Buildings
Community buildings, such as village halls, town halls, church halls and community centres, are at the heart of our communities in Somerset. CCS offers a friendly, independent service providing local expert advice and practical support to volunteers managing these facilities.
If you have questions about running a community hall, have just stepped up to be a hall trustee, or need help expanding the work you’re already doing – or for anything else – feel free to contact Sally Sargent, our Community Buildings Officer. We look forward to hearing from you!
Environmental Future Proofing your Community Building
We have a wide range of resources on making environmental improvements to community buildings, which will support your facility on its carbon reduction journey:
- information sheets
- case studies
- events
- and useful links.
Hear from our members
It’s good to know that CCS is there to answer queries about procedure and legislation, vital to the day-to-day running of our hall.
Wendy Hobbs Committee Member
Become a Community Buildings Member
Membership includes:
- Friendly, independent and expert support for all your queries (first hour FREE).
- FREE access to OVER 90 specialist information sheets WORTH £680.
- Access to our private Facebook networking group
- Online access 24 hours a day in the ‘Members Only’ area of our website.
- Regular e-newsletters/bulletins
- FREE ENTRY into the nationally recognised Hallmark Quality Standard Scheme
- ££’s off training and events
- Full promotion and listing on our Community Building Locator.
Safeguarding Guidance
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has been awarded over £100k from the National Lottery Community Fund to promote good safeguarding practice to village and community halls throughout England.
CCS will be working to ensure that community hall management committees across Somerset have the knowledge and confidence to provide a safe environment for all.
CCS and ACRE have joined forces with the energy broker Utility Aid. Utility Aid is the largest energy broker for the not-for-profit sector in the UK, offering bespoke services for community buildings. Utility Aid have created this short video to explain how they can help halls reduce their running costs and how to sign up for their services.
Get in touch with your local adviser
Community Buildings Advisors:
Katherine Armstrong
Kate Burrough
Contact
communitybuildings@somersetrcc.org.uk
Call
07946 461560
Robert Horn, Community Buildings Advisor
Robert is passionate about supporting Village Halls and the community events that go on in them. Coming from a background in Building Surveying, he has been advising Village Halls in several counties for 15 years. He has been a trustee for his local village hall and now manages a small community centre on a part-time basis. A founding trustee and volunteer for a recreational charity, he also enjoys making music and messing about with old cars in his spare time.
Contact
robert@somersetrcc.org.uk
Call
07931 871375
Join our members’ Facebook Group
Our Community Buildings Members’ Facebook Group is a new forum for trustees to ask questions and share ideas with each other.
Learn more
Hallmark Quality Standard Scheme
Developed by CCS and now a nationally recognised award, Hallmark level 1, 2 and 3 awards recognise good management and practice by the Community Building Management Committee.
Community Buildings Training Calendar
Smart Communities Ltd Services
Smart Communities Ltd is a leading consultancy service that provides:
- Community research
- Source Funding & write applications
- Support new projects/service delivery in communities
