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Village halls: where were we then?

Village halls: where were we then?. Dr Sarah Skerratt, Senior Researcher & Team Leader, Rural Society Research. Acknowledgement:. This research was funded by the Scottish Government in 2008. What did we focus on?. Use, income, management, insurance, condition, energy efficiency, heating

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Village halls: where were we then?

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  1. Village halls: where were we then? Dr Sarah Skerratt, Senior Researcher & Team Leader, Rural Society Research

  2. Acknowledgement: • This research was funded by the Scottish Government in 2008.

  3. What did we focus on? • Use, income, management, insurance, condition, energy efficiency, heating • Advice & support available to management committees • Sources/levels of funding • Economic sustainability of multi-purpose halls

  4. How did we do the research? • Postal survey: 322 responses from all over Scotland • Case studies: 6village halls • Interviews with 9 funders and advisers

  5. Village halls themselves: • 80% halls owned by local community • 66%+ more than 50 years old, with majority requiring improvements • Running costs high: • Electricity = main fuel source (20% = oil) • Minority have renewable energy source • Less than 50% have energy conservation measures

  6. Village halls – the people: • Use & users: • Venue for community; less than 20% for public services • 75%+ are used by young and old people; 50%+ provide venue for parents & toddlers • Halls committees: • Majority meet quarterly; 25% meet once/twice a year • Difficult to recruit/retain volunteers • Paperwork and planning: • Concerns about amount of red tape • Only 20%: business plan in past 5 years • 66%: no budget year-on-year 6

  7. Support? • Training for business planning, governance & management: • Almost no hall committees in previous year • Workshops, conferences, networking: • Less than 20% hall committees in previous year • Funding: • 75%+ received funding from 1-5 funding sources • Biggest funders: local authorities and Big Lottery

  8. Key conclusions: • Village halls as public service venues: • Examples of partnership • Advice and support required: • Energy conservation and renewables • Legislation and regulations • Business and budget planning • Evaluation of potential to be multi-service outlets • Need increased sharing of: • Best practice • Experiences (buildings; engagement) • Guidance/templates (e.g. regulation)

  9. Village halls: where were we then? Dr Sarah Skerratt Tel: 0131 535 4335 Sarah.skerratt@sac.ac.uk

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