The Hallmark scheme was launched by ACRE on 30 March 2007 and currently operates in 19 counties.  It promotes the delivery of effective and well-managed village halls through a quality standards scheme which is backed up by a system of peer visitors. The trained peer visitors use a system of checklists to identify performance and provide an external validation of achievement.

For an outline of the Hallmark checklists click here              

Hallmark was developed by the Community Council for Somerset and has run successfully in that county for three years.  The Community Council for Somerset have also assisted Community Action (former county of Avon) to set up a similar scheme in its area.  Somerset's experience of introducing the Hallmark scheme has highlighted two main benefits:

• it provides funders and other organisations interested in village halls with a benchmark for a well managed hall
• it gives village hall volunteers confidence that they are running the hall in the correct way.

The county-based operation of the national scheme ensures that halls are responding to a scheme that is locally relevant, whilst drawing on national standards that are well benchmarked.  It encourages management committees to share best practice, access local training opportunities suitable for their needs and build strong networks at local level to create a sustainable support system.

View our promotional leaflet on the Hallmark Scheme here

To find out if Hallmark is operating in your county contact your local village hall adviser.