Rural health and wellbeing in focus as Village Halls Week returns for 2026

Now in its eighth year, Village Halls Week is using its 2026 outing to showcase just how valuable the buildings are in supporting people to live well, and the extent to which they enable connection in rural areas that so often lack other forms of social environment.

The seven-day event is the flagship campaign of Action with Communities in Rural England.

ACRE is the only national charity for rural communities and works closely with a network of 37 member charities in rural communities across England to campaign for change, enable local action and unlock support for people most in need.

This year’s event, which will see village halls up and down the country stage hundreds of community-focused activities, all of which are designed to bring people together, had its official launch on Friday 13 March at Parbold Village Hall in Lancashire.

Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, attended the event and spoke with local trustees, as well as members of ACRE, about how the venue not only contributes to community life, but also supports residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Corinne Pluchino, Chief Executive at ACRE, said: “Village Halls Week is always an important milestone in our calendar, and we are proud to have chosen health and wellbeing as the focus of this year’s event, as we know these buildings have a vital role to play in helping communities to live well.

“So often, the health of rural people is put at a disadvantage purely because of where they live, with travel to hospitals taking twice as long on average for those living outside a big town or city.

“Village halls can help to bring healthcare closer to rural communities and many of them are already supporting rural wellbeing.

“We want to use this week to shine a light on all the community activities, be it keep-fit classes, parent and baby mornings or blood pressure clinics, that are making a real and worthwhile difference to the lives of so many.”

Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, said: “Village halls do so much for the communities they serve, and in recent years their value and worth has been clear to see.

“Whether it was doubling up as a vaccination clinic at the height of the pandemic or providing a space for members of the community to meet and reduce isolation, village halls have always been there to bridge the gap, providing care, support and reassurance right in the hearts of people’s communities.

“I’m incredibly proud of our village halls in West Lancashire, and their role in supporting and maintaining local communities – something that I am equally passionate about.”

“ACRE’s Village Halls Week is a fantastic initiative, and I would strongly encourage my constituents in West Lancashire to show support to their own village hall in whatever way they can.

“Not just this week, but as part of their everyday lives and the communities they live in.”

Corinne added: “We were delighted that Ashley was able to join us for our launch event, and we welcome her longstanding commitment to improving access to healthcare for local people, especially those living in rural areas.”

Communities taking part in this year’s Village Halls Week have been asked to organise events that link to one or more of the five steps to mental wellbeing – connecting, exercising, learning, giving and noticing – that are recommended by experts within the NHS.

Some venues that have already pledged their support have committed to hosting a range of diverse activities, from mindfulness sessions and healthy eating classes, to first aid courses and charity bingo nights.

Sponsorship for the event, which runs until Sunday 22 March, has been generously supplied by Utility Aid, which provides energy help and advice to communities up and down the country, as well as Hallmaster, whose innovative venue booking system enables teams working in rural buildings to easily manage their calendars of events.

For more information on Village Halls Week, and to find further details about the work of ACRE, visit www.acre.org.uk.