Hallmark Quality Standard
Have you heard about the Community Buildings Hallmark quality standard Scheme?
Obtaining Hallmark status highlighted the shortfall in the Trustees procedures and legal obligations they were not aware of. We now have a structured line of responsibilities to manage the Hall, which as a direct result we have secured grants of over £50,000 to refurbish our Hall as well as a discount on the Insurance premium and other benefits that Hallmark bring.
Isle Abbotts Village Hall
How does the Hallmark Scheme work?
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 with the Hallmark award benefit recognition on funding applications both local and national grants as it evidences the high standard of the committee members and the merit of the hall and available to our Community Buildings members.

Assessment process
Hallmark uses a system of trained peer visitors who use checklists to identify performance and provide external validation of achievement. These peer visitors are often active hall committee members who have been through the Hallmark Scheme themselves.
Success for 25 Village Halls across Somerset in 2019
CCS awarded 25 Village Halls certificates to celebrate their Village Halls achieving the Hallmark quality standards at the October annual Community Buildings Training event, at Edington Village Hall.
- 24 Achieved Hallmark 1
- 14 Achieved Hallmark 2
- 8 Achieved Hallmark 3

Hallmark definitions
This is how we define each Hallmark
Hallmark 1
Focuses on the management and administration of the charity
Hallmark 2
Focuses on health, safety, security, and licenses
Hallmark 3
Focuses on community, social awareness, communications, forward planning, and development
Hallmark Presentation
Our Hallmark presentations took place at our Annual Community Buildings Training held at Long Sutton Village Hall in October. Here are some of our award winners presented by Eileen Zoers former Community Buildings Advisor for Somerset – who met and presented all the certificates and awards.

Congratulations!
CCS annually holds the District Hallmark Awards. Congratulations to the below facilities:
- Somerset West & Taunton District Winner – West Monkton Village Hall
- Sedgemoor District Winner – Burtle Village Hall & Cossington Village Hall
- South Somerset District Winner – Odcombe Village Hall
- Sadly no Mendip facility award this year.

How to apply for Hallmark?
Community Buildings member Hallmark entries are now closed for 2019 but you can always prepare for 2020.
Entries for 2019 – 2020 will be open from 1st December 2019 – March 31st, 2020. Visits take place from April 2020 – August 31st, 2020.
Please contact communitybuildings@somersetrcc.org.uk to find out more.
