Village Halls Event – 23rd March 2024
A Celebration of Village Life & Future Sustainability
This new, free event, celebrating village life and the contributions of the Village Halls will take place at the end of ACRE’s National Village Halls Week, on Saturday 23rd March, at Mottistone Gardens (11am-3pm).
Community Action IW are working with National Trust and Village Halls from across the Island, together with supporting partners to create a platform that will show how important these community spaces are to the people they serve.
Village Halls have been invited to showcase what they do, share good practice and ideas and engage with new people. There will also be information and advice for village halls about funding and energy conservation.
The theme for this year’s Village Halls Week is Go Green, so we are planning a series of talks around sustainability and energy conservation. So far we have Wight Community Energy, Future IOW, The Footprint Trust, National Trust Rangers and the Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust giving presentations.
Village Halls tend to be run by volunteer management committees or other small groups of volunteers. Roles include financial management, building maintenance, hall hire, fundraising, licence holder, event organiser and so on. Very often these same people are the sharers of information, community activators and those who deal with problems that arise in the local area. The vast majority of Village Hall committees would welcome anyone who is willing to help, whether that is with administrative jobs, practical skills or simply an extra pair of hands to put out chairs, make tea or say hello to visitors.
Volunteer recruitment, community engagement and networking between Village Halls will also be features of our event.
Why should YOU come along to the event? Free entry to Mottistone Gardens with the chance to wander around the gardens, have a cup of tea, check out the second hand bookshop. You can choose to listen to talks, peruse the stalls and take part in activities. There will be guided tours of the garden and demonstrations from the National Trust. Music and other entertainment in the marquee and exhibits about the Village Halls and other community groups. Children will get the chance to have an early preview of the Easter Trail and to take part in free, nature based activities.
We are hoping that Sean will be there with his sheep too!
Comments are closed.