Celebrating rural communities during Village Halls Week!

January 27, 2023

There are over 10,000 village halls in the UK and at The Prince’s Countryside Fund, we are especially proud of the ones that we work with and support through our grant programme, helping to build resilient communities throughout rural Britain.

Since 2018, Village Halls Week has given the country an opportunity to thank the village halls and their volunteers across the nation who play such a crucial role in the wellbeing and livelihoods of their communities.

Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall

In 2021, Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall in Somerset wanted to create a bright and welcoming meeting space for village residents and the surrounding areas so that they could socialise with each other in a relaxed atmosphere. We awarded them a grant of £10,000 to help them repurpose rooms within the village hall and build a community café with indoor and outdoor seating.

Andy North, Chairman of Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall, said “These funds are an extremely valuable contribution to our overall project which will now enable us to commence the building works with confidence.”

Barton Bendish Village Hall

Last year, we also went out to Norfolk to visit Barton Bendish Village Hall – another of our grant beneficiaries. Watch the video below to find out more about how they have been working together to support those who are vulnerable and isolated in their community:

Friends of the Countryside

Our work in communities like these wouldn’t be possible without the support of Friends who care so deeply about our countryside and its future. If you can spare as little as £3 a month, you will be playing a huge part in helping us build a real future for rural Britain.