We trace how our village hall uncovered mislabelled “refunds,” challenged erratic post-fire electricity bills, and unlocked an £8,600 correction by fixing VAT status and metering. Calm persistence, clear records, and a smart meter turned chaos into £14 monthly bills and new capital repairs.

• the hall’s role as a community hub and user groups
• solar installation, electrical fire, and meter replacement timeline
• erratic billing pattern identified via printed statements
• misposted credits acting as charges
• supplier refusal to investigate due to “no debt”
• ombudsman requiring a deadlock letter
• VAT rate review from 20% to 5% and resulting refund
• smart meter install and final reconciliation
• practical steps to challenge bills with data
• reinvesting the refund into annex and shed repairs

The North Northumberland Village Halls Consortium demonstrates how 80 village halls work together to share knowledge, resources, and support across their rural communities. Their volunteer-led network provides crucial services like affordable PAT testing and trusted contractor recommendations, creating a sustainable model for village hall collaboration that has thrived for over 20 years.

• Nearly 80 village halls in North Northumberland working as a self-help group for over 20 years
• Consortium recently received funding through the Benefact Group's "Closer to You" initiative
• Members collectively manage approximately £22 million worth of property assets
• Shared contractor database helps halls find reliable service providers
• Volunteer-run PAT testing service keeps costs affordable (about £15 for small halls)

We dive into the world of energy efficiency for village and community halls with experts Andy Mitchell and Phil Strickland from 21 Degrees, exploring practical solutions to reduce carbon footprints and energy costs.

• Heat pumps can work effectively in any reasonably insulated building when properly designed and installed
• Understanding the difference between how boilers and heat pumps heat spaces is crucial for optimal efficiency
• Insulation fundamentally changes a building's physics, requiring careful consideration of moisture management
• Mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems improve air quality while maintaining energy efficiency
• EV charging points offer village halls an opportunity to provide valuable services to their communities
• Solar panels work even on cloudy days and can be integrated with EV chargers and battery storage

Entries are now open for the Village Halls Inspiration Awards 2025, celebrating the incredible work happening in village, community and church halls across the country. You can apply between the 1st of May and the 30th of September, so do consider putting your hall forward.