£3 million scheme opened to regenerate village halls

A £3 million fund to improve village halls and better connect rural communities across the country has been launched.

With more than 10,000 village halls across the country, these spaces provide vital hubs for communities to connect, collaborate and celebrate. Thanks to the Defra investment, village hall committees can now apply for grants of up to £75,000 towards refurbishment and alteration of their buildings, from improvement works on existing facilities through to new meeting rooms.

The new scheme, which will help around 100 community building projects to get on site and start work, is to be opened by Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner and Robert Jenrick, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, at the Oxton Village Hall in Nottinghamshire. Oxton Village Hall has refurbished the kitchen and toilets, and installed double glazing throughout the hall, while East Bridgford Village Hall has invested in a new heating system and installed energy efficiency lighting.

Speaking at the launch Lord Gardiner will say: "Village halls are the cornerstone of our rural communities. They provide vital spaces and facilities for people across the country – from fitness and social activity through to healthcare and education. I am delighted to launch officially this £3 million grant scheme for village halls, supporting these important hubs for our local communities."