We unpack how village and community halls can manage changing risks, legal duties, and rural challenges with smart, simple practices. Daniel Noonan from Kent Fire and Rescue explains how a living fire risk assessment ties alarms, signage, training, hirer rules, and new tech into a clear plan.

• who the responsible person is under the Fire Safety Order
• why annual reviews and change-triggered reviews matter
• common hazards in rural halls and low water pressure
• what a risk assessment must include and record
• when alarms are needed, testing, and maintenance cycles
• signage, emergency lighting, and evacuation plans
• managing hirer risks and banning pyrotechnics
• keeping exits clear, bins away, and vegetation low
• training volunteers for evacuation and extinguisher competence
• integrating solar, EV chargers, and battery risks safely
• rules for charging e-scooters, e-bikes, and vapes

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)