Launch of the East Riding Association of Rural Community Buildings

A NEW NETWORK for Rural Community Buildings is to be formally established by the Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council (HWRCC).

On Saturday, 24 September 2011, an event will be held at Tickton Village Hall to celebrate the launch of the newly established East Riding Association of Rural Community Buildings. The Chairman of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Kay West, will formally welcome the Association and wish it well. This will be followed by its inaugural Annual General Meeting.

Almost 160 rural community buildings exist across the East Riding of Yorkshire and the majority of these facilities are charitable trusts managed by local volunteers. In many villages the community building/village hall is the only place where local people can meet and, in many cases, is providing access to a number of services and activities that otherwise could not be provided within these localities.

Over two years ago HWRCC established two Community Building Networks in the East Riding to provide management committees with a peer support mechanism. These networking opportunities have allowed committees to share ideas, concerns and receive training on relative subjects. As a consequence of their success they will come together under the newly formed Association.

The new Association will provide the legal structure and a ‘bigger voice’ for individual management committees. This will allow them to negotiate cost-savings and income generating initiatives, as well as influencing rural policy at a local, regional and national level.

New members are welcome. If anyone wants to know more about the Association or become a member please contact Margaret Kirk or log on to www.hwrcc.org.uk. T: 01430 430904 E: margaret.kirk@hwrcc.org.uk

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Paull - A new community spirit!

TO CELEBRATE EVERYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT PAULL, then visit the new Paull Village Hall website.

Paull, a village of around 500 people, has undergone something of a transformation in community spirit over the last two years: - The St Andrew Church faced closure in 2007 unless funding for urgent roof repairs could be found, but in January last year the church was blessed by the Archbishop of York and villagers praised for their community efforts to keep it open. The church also now runs its own pop-in cafe that can be used as a base for those taking part in the village's unique Paull Heritage Trail.

Paull Scarecrow Festival

The Village Hall was also generally run-down and not used to its full potential, but now the Hall has a packed calendar of events and has ambitious plans to re-build itself as an iconic centre of local community activity.

The catalyst for these events has undoubtedly been the enthusiasm and drive of Village Hall and St Andrew Church Treasurer, Paul Cross. His passion for the area, its people and heritage has certainly inspired other villagers, ex-pats and supporters to get involved.

The Village Hall website itself is representative of the new lease of community life emanating from Paull and is a welcome addition to the growing number of hyperlocal community websites in the area.

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Village Hall and Community Building Website to be launched

"What happens here?"

A NEW WEBSITE is to be launched to advertise the facilities and activities available in Village Halls and other Community Buildings.

The new website, Rural Community Buildings, will be launched at the end of the year and will provide instant information about your community building; the facilities available, the rooms that can be booked, the events taking place, etc. It will aim to provide the most comprehensive database of community buildings in the East Yorkshire and Humber area.

The Rural Community Buildings website will benefit from having a marketing programme attached to it. The website will be promoted to local authorities, other voluntary and community groups, and private companies. The idea is to encourage other organisations to link to the website so that it becomes the main source of information on community buildings in the area. 

The new website will be promoted prior to its launch and continuously afterwards to ensure that it generates visitors and regular new traffic. Management Committees of Village Halls and Community Buildings will be able to ensure that their entry on the website is updated regularly with the latest information.

The website is being published by the HWRCC (Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council) who stress that the website will be independent but will benefit from links with them and other partner organisations.

There will be a cost for the service of £52 per year which will ensure the sustainability of the website and its continual development and maintenance.

The website, which is currently under development, will be at www.ruralcommunitybuildings.org.uk and further information and an opportunity to register your building for the new site is available at the HWRCC website.

Further information is available from Margaret Kirk, Village Halls Advisor, E-mail: margaret.kirk@hwrcc.org.uk Telephone: 01430 434046.

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