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.

We discuss the crucial yet often overlooked topic of village hall insurance and launch a new listener poll to shape future episodes on insurance topics that matter most to trustees and committee members.

• Insurance often becomes a priority only when something goes wrong
• Most trustees delegate insurance to one person with little collective oversight
• Insurance is a legal contract protecting your building, people, and finances
• New anonymous poll available at thevillagehallspodcast.com/facebook-polls
• Future episodes will explain most requested insurance topics in plain language
• Topics include buildings insurance, liability coverage, business interruption, and more
• Understanding insurance principles helps trustees ask better questions
• Village Halls Inspiration Awards 2025 entries open until 30th September
• £5,000 prize fund sponsored by Allied Westminster and Ecclesiastical
• Awards recognise grassroots action regardless of hall size or budget

https://thevillagehallspodcast.com/facebook-polls/