Hallmark status

Hallmark Quality Standard



Have you heard about the Community Buildings 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 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.

Hallmark definitions

This is how we define each Hallmark

1

Hallmark 1

Focuses on the management and administration of the charity

2

Hallmark 2

Focuses on health, safety, security, and licenses

3

Hallmark 3

Focuses on community, social awareness, communications, forward planning, and development

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.

Apply for Hallmark 2021

With the easing of lockdown restrictions, we are now planning to reopen the Community Building member Hallmark accreditation scheme (COVID restrictions permitting).

To enter your community building, click here. The deadline for applications is Friday 21st May.

Please be aware that this scheme relies on the hard work of our wonderful Hallmark Visitors, who are all volunteers. We will endeavour to visit as many halls as possible, but there may be a delay due to a backlog of applications and fewer Hallmark Visitors. If your hall has a Hallmark accreditation which is due for renewal in 2021, we have extended your certificate which will be valid for another 12 months.

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

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
Recent Winners

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.

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.