Village Halls Week set to launch with

help of rural Lancashire community

Village Halls Week, which runs between Monday 16 and Sunday 22 March, is an annual event that highlights the enormous positive impact that community buildings have on the lives of people living in rural areas.

This year’s week is themed around the topic of health and wellbeing, with the launch of the seven-day spectacle taking place for the first time in the Lancashire village of Parbold on Friday 13 March.

Village hall managers, trustees and volunteers from in and around Lancashire, as well as those from further afield, are being invited to attend the official launch event, which will feature workshops, networking opportunities, guest speakers, a prize raffle and a traditional hot pot lunch.

The annual campaign is delivered by national charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), which works in partnership with its network of 37 member charities, all of whom support and manage more than 10,000 village halls and community buildings up and down the country.

Deborah Clarke, Rural Evidence and Village Halls Manager at ACRE, said: “Village halls are arguably the lifeblood of England’s rural communities.

“Whether it’s providing warm spaces during the cold winter months, hosting weekly get-fit classes or offering young people a safe place to socialise after school, village halls support rural communities to thrive.

“This week of celebration is not only about highlighting the immeasurable positive impact that these community buildings have on the villages they serve, but also about saying thank you to the thousands of volunteers across England who dedicate their time and energy to keeping these essential local venues up and running.

“Parbold Village Hall is a perfect example of a building that is truly at the heart of its community, and ACRE is delighted to be joining forces with Community Futures, our local member for Lancashire, to officially launch what promises to be a very fun and fulfilling week.”

Communities taking part this year 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 coffee mornings, to digital inclusion workshops and charity bingo nights.

Parbold Village Hall is supported by Community Futures, which has been working in partnership with Lancashire’s rural residents since its inception in 1934.

Joe Hannett, Chief Executive Officer, Community Futures, said: “Village Hall Week is a long running celebration of the vital contribution village halls make to rural communities.

“We’re thrilled to have been asked by ACRE to facilitate this event, and we’re excited to use the opportunity to reconnect with village halls across Lancashire.”

Sponsorship for the week-long event 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.

The launch of Village Halls Week 2026 will take place at Parbold Village Hall between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Friday 13 March.

Those wishing to attend are encouraged to reserve their place in advance, which can be done online via the ACRE website at www.acre.org.uk/village-halls-week-2026.