Rural charity set to host country’s

largest gathering of village hall advisers

Around 30 delegates are expected to attend the annual two-day event, which is delivered by national charity Action with Communities in Rural England, making it the largest gathering of village hall advisers anywhere in the country.

The 2026 edition is set to take place on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May at Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre, which is located in the Staffordshire market town of Stone.

Those coming along will have the opportunity to meet others working in a similar role, share learning and receive training from industry experts, which can then be taken away and used to offer practical support to the vast army of volunteers who work tirelessly across England’s 10,000 village halls.

Action with Communities in Rural England is the national charity for all rural communities, as well as the umbrella body for the ACRE Network.

Made up of 38 standalone member charities, with each one representing the rural interests of its respective county, the Network collectively campaigns for change, enables on-the-ground action and unlocks support for those most in need.

Each member also operates a local village hall advisory service, with its advisers working to provide local volunteers with the support needed to keep their community building up and running.

Deborah Clarke, Village Halls Manager, ACRE, said: “Village halls are not just simple spaces-for-hire, but true community assets that have the power to bring people together and to enhance the lives of rural families.

“Despite their enormous social contribution, most village halls are run entirely on goodwill, which makes our annual advisers conference so important.

“By bringing village hall advisers together under one roof, we can guarantee that essential information – on everything from securing lower energy bills to negotiating complex insurance policies – can be shared with the volunteers on the ground who work so tirelessly, often without any training or prior experience, to keep their venue’s doors open and lights switched on.”

Industry experts from a range of fields and backgrounds, including nearby Keele University and Cannock Chase District Council, along with local professional services firms Cubed Tax and Ellis-Fermor & Negus Solicitors, will also be at the event to share their knowledge and insight.

Among the sponsors for this year’s event is Norris and Fisher Insurance Brokers, who work exclusively with charities, village halls and other voluntary groups.

Jade Winter, Director at Norris and Fisher, said: “We are delighted to once again be partnering with ACRE to deliver this extremely useful and worthwhile event.

“At Norris and Fisher, we understand just how important community buildings are to everyday life in rural areas, and that protecting these valuable venues from the unexpected is a necessity that shouldn’t be complicated or overly expensive.

“We look forward to what promises to be a fantastic two days, and would encourage any community group in need of help with their insurance to contact us directly.”

Other event sponsors include Hallmaster, Utility Aid, Sound Reduction Systems, ARC Thermal, TJB Community and Easyfunding.

For more information about ACRE and its work in supporting the more than 10,000 village halls across England, visit www.acre.org.uk.

“Despite their enormous social contribution, most village halls are run entirely on goodwill, which makes our annual advisers conference so important.”

Deborah Clarke, Village Halls Manager